5th Annual Evansville Zombie 5K Run/Walk 2026

The Evansville Zombie 5K Run/Walk starts at Wesselman Park with a survival-game setup: reach the Red Cross outpost, collect the code, and return before the zombies get you. Martial Hearts hosts this 5K for ages 12 and up. The race begins in the late afternoon and has a Halloween theme, focusing on a zombie apocalypse rather than a typical road race. The route goes between Wesselman Woods and the local Red Cross outpost before returning to Wesselman Woods. It uses paved surfaces, wooded trails, and fenced areas. Volunteer zombies, age 16 or older, wear their own zombie gear and attempt to tag participants' shirts with fake blood. Runners should wear clothes that can get messy. Parents must accompany children. After the finish, participants receive snacks and water. A Wesselman Woods Halloween party follows, with a blood splatter wall and optional face painting available through the organizer. Partial proceeds benefit Wesselman Woods and Martial Hearts, a nonprofit that helps cover youth martial arts costs and provides free self-defense training for women.