Ellington

Fondren's first Zombie Charity Crawl and Zombie Prom is Thursday, Oct. 27. The Miss-issippi Optometric Foundation, Fondren Association of Businesses and Fondren Renaissance Foundation present the event with an aim to raise awareness about children's vision issues. All proceeds go to the Mississippi Optometric Foundation.

The Zombie Crawl Family Festival is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the Duling School east lawn. The festival is free to the public and features a children's costume contest at 6:30 p.m., a zombie costume contest at 7 p.m. and a pumpkin-decorating contest. Winners will be announced at 7:30 p.m. Plus, you'll find face painting, a space jump, treats and the Market
in Fondren.

For a small donation, you can get yourself "zombified" with makeup, props and old clothes. Y101.7 will be on site with a live remote and music. Be sure to stop by the other exhibitor tents.

The Zombie Crawl itself begins at 6 p.m. from Morgan Place, heads to Old Canton Road, heads to State Street via Fondren Place and ends up where it started. At 8 p.m., stick around the festival area to view "Night of the Living Dead" on the inflatable screen.

The Zombie Prom is 8 p.m.-11 p.m. at Duling Hall and is $50 per person or $90 per couple. Tickets for this 21-and-over part of the evening may be purchased beginning at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available at Ridgeland Eyecare Center (8 Professional Parkway, Ridgeland, 601-957-8444), Heroes and Dreams: Comics and Collectibles (5352 Lakeland Drive, Suite 1700, Flowood, 601-992-3100) or Sal & Mookie's New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint (565 Taylor St., 601-368-1919). The Rocking Dead, aka The Jason Turner Band, will perform. Admission includes food from Mangia Bene and drink tickets. A Zombie King and Queen will be crowned at the end of the night.

Visit the Southern Optical Zombie Charity Crawl and Prom Facebook page or the Zombie Charity Crawl and Zombie Prom Facebook event page for information. Also, check here for a full version of the map