Visit Davis, California, home of the West Coast’s Zombie Bike Parade Halloweekend Festival from Friday, October 25th through Sunday, October 27th. Encounter endless Halloween spectacles, including mad scientists, rotting robots, dancing dead, electrifying e-bikes, karate, fencing, laser marksmanship, and a skydiving grand finale! The Davis Odd Fellows and The Bike Campaign are delighted to partner with over 100 sponsors, collaborators, and media partners to provide unforgettable Halloweekend experiences...and we couldn’t do it without the big-time, zombie-raising power of Hallmark Properties, the City of Davis, and Visit Yolo.
The Zombie Bike Parade's mission has always been to make bicycling available to everyone, including children with disabilities. Over the past five years, event organizers have raised funds (primarily from sponsors) and donated more than $30,000 to NorCal Trykers, an organization that creates custom tricycles for children with disabilities. Each tricycle costs about $1,000 to make, and funds from our events have provided 30 children with custom tricycles so far. These children get to experience the freedom of riding on a bicycle and feeling the wind in their hair for the first time. With the help of our generous sponsors, we have been able to raise money for our beneficiary, NorCal Trykers, while keeping our events almost entirely FREE to the public!
If you’re visiting from out of town, arrive early with your family and friends on Friday or Saturday and experience all that Davis has to offer: art, culture, vibrant night life, and wonderful lodging. Book a room in one of our 12 hotels/motels, visit the UC Davis Arboretum & Public Garden, and stroll our downtown. Don’t forget to bring, buy, or rent a bike! Davis boasts a variety of bike shops, including our featured partners: Ken’s Bike-Ski-Board, Davis Cyclery, Green Bicycle Depot, Freewheeler, and the Bike Garage.
Zombie activities begin Saturday afternoon with Mirror Image Dance Company’s Trunk-or-Treat Extravaganza. Expect a cauldron of fun: face painting, dancing, a costume runway walk, bounce houses, and delectable treats (yes, including adult drinks). Don’t miss this haunted bash!
If you have time to spare, take your family and friends out to Bobby Dazzler’s Pumpkin Patch. Open your world to acres of pumpkins, a maze, a petting zoo, horse rides, hay pyramids, picnic areas, and so much more. Most importantly, take a ride on their famous Cow Train––an adventure that cannot be explained, only experienced.
Then, get ready for a hauntingly good time at the Davis Zombie Ball (adults only 18+). Partygoers can enjoy beer, wine, Halloween-themed mixed drinks, music by DJ Duc Jones, a Halloween costume showcase, a medium & spirit guide, a tarot card reader, and complimentary snacks and food for purchase. This event is on Saturday, October 26th from 7:00-9:30PM (doors open at 6:30pm), and takes place at the Odd Fellows Lodge (415 Second Street, Davis). The Zombie Ball is hosted by the Davis Odd Fellows and sponsored by Bohéme Hip Used Clothing. Get costumes & props at Bohéme at 409 3rd Street, in downtown Davis! A percentage of the event proceeds will benefit Thriving Pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Get Tickets Now! A $13 early bird rate is available now, so hurry! Otherwise expect to pay $25 regular admission. Tickets at www.posh.vip/e/davis-zombie-ball-2.
We suggest getting plenty of rest on Saturday night, because more than 100 local and regional organizations have come together to surprise families and friends with a monstrously large Halloween present on Sunday, October 27th from 11:00am-3:30pm. Drum roll please…our team of event organizers invites visitors and residents alike to join thousands of Halloween creatures for the ride of your life at our 6th annual, family-friendly Zombie Bike Parade Festival!!!
Expect more than 12 entertainment stations, several zombie bike mechanics, and a professional stage with scheduled Halloween acts. The stage is dedicated to Friends of Watermelon Music, who is helping to keep music accessible to our community. Expect a lineup of DJs, musicians, dancers, and even a watermelon-carving station.
This year, our food and drink vendors include the Purple Tree Café, Hotdogger, Steve’s Pizza, Niknek Lemonade, Kona Ice, Handheld Sweet & Savory Handpies, and Puros’ Churros.
Entertainment stations range from interactive opportunities—such as engaging with local Davis groups like the robotics team (Citrus Circuits) and the Davis Fencing Academy—to encountering epic spectacles—such as zombies on stilts, an entire Halloween marching band, and a party with Davis Rave Co. and the giant inflatable octopus! Also, expect pop-up entertainment stations by community members, including the possibility of brain juice (pink lemonade) stations run by neighborhood children along the route.
As an added bonus, participants can join the Zombie Kingdom Quest, solve a Halloween riddle, and earn a FREE board game, candy, and access to the castle bounce house.
The actual bike parade, from 11:30am-1:00pm, takes place along safe bike paths and through neighborhoods of Davis. Participants will ride from Community Park to Mace Ranch Park and back (under five miles total). See the route on our website www.zombiebikeparade.com.
Can’t ride in the parade? That’s ok—all active mobility participants are invited to Community Park where the majority of the day’s festivities take place. We welcome pedestrians, scooters, skateboards, strollers, wheelchairs, powerchairs, and other modes of transportation. And best of all, Community Park has the Skydance Skydiving grand finale at 3:30pm.
Have questions regarding our lineup of events? Want to join in the planning, sponsor our event, or form a partnership? Reach out to Zombie Bike Parade coordinator, Aaron Wedra, at smartzgraphics@yahoo.com or (530) 574-7306.
