Countdown begins to Newquay's annual Zombie Crawl

Thousands of zombies, monsters and ghouls are expected to take over the streets of Newquay later this month as the town prepares for its annual Halloween celebrations.

The Newquay Zombie Crawl returns on Saturday 24 October, with organisers promising a day of free family entertainment, street performances and activities across the town centre.

The event, organised by Newquay Business Improvement District (BID) with support from Newquay Town Council, forms the centrepiece of Spooky Newquay, a programme of Halloween activities taking place throughout the October half-term.

Activities will begin at 10:30am, with the main Zombie Crawl procession setting off at 3:00pm.

Thousands expected for Halloween procession

The Zombie Crawl will begin at Oakleigh Terrace, near Asda and Newquay railway station, before travelling through the town centre and finishing at Sainsbury's.

Families, community groups and performers are being encouraged to dress up and join the procession, while spectators can watch from along the route.

Radio Newquay will provide music and entertainment alongside the Newquay Samba Band, which will perform on Cliff Road before joining the parade.

Organisers say this year's event will feature giant monster heads, stilt walkers, dancers, circus acts, street theatre and fire performers.

A series of workshops and activities will also take place throughout the town to help families prepare for the procession.

Titan the Robot among attractions

One of the main attractions this year will be Titan the Robot, which is scheduled to perform at the Killacourt at 2:00pm, an hour before the Zombie Crawl begins.

The Cornwall Rock Choir will also take part for the first time, with pop-up performances planned around the town during the day.

Businesses will host activities throughout the half-term celebrations, including Halloween-themed events, family discos, fancy-dress activities and evening entertainment.

The NICI Hotel on East Street is among the businesses taking part by hosting a workshop.

A new website, ZombieCrawl.co.uk, has also been launched, providing details of workshops, events, business offers and information for participants.

'A fantastic celebration of our community'

Mark Warren, from Newquay BID, said the Zombie Crawl continued to grow each year thanks to the support of businesses, performers and volunteers.

"The Zombie Crawl is such a fantastic celebration of our community. It brings together families, local businesses, performers, creative groups, volunteers and visitors and turns the whole town into one huge Halloween celebration," he said.

"It's completely free, it's fun, it's a little bit bonkers, and it gets bigger every year. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who gets involved and makes it happen."

He added that organisers were looking forward to welcoming thousands of people to Newquay for the celebrations.

The event will be supported by volunteers from Newquay Lions, Towan Blystra Lions, Newquay Veterans and other community organisations, who will assist with road closures and safety arrangements.

Families urged to plan ahead

With large crowds expected, organisers are asking parents and carers to keep children close throughout the day.

Event marshals and town rangers will be available to provide assistance, while Newquay Library will act as a central point for children who become separated from their families.

Visitors are also being encouraged to arrive early, with town centre car parks expected to be busy.

Additional parking will be available at Trenance, which organisers say is around a five-minute walk from the start of the procession at Oakleigh Terrace.