I got word last week from Ryan Reiter, co-organizer of the annual Fourth of July weekend Red White and Dead zombie walk through Fremont, that our zombies may be homeless this year. It seems the gathering of moaning, staggering undead has gotten too big for the neighborhood. In 2010 Seattle held the Guinness World Record (briefly) for "largest zombie gathering" with 4,233 zombies registered (how do you get them to write? Do they know their names?). Now consider how much fake blood must have dripped on the streets of Fremont over the past four years, and you'll see why it's time to move on. 

So...how do you bring back the dead? Contact Ryan at [email protected] if your neighborhood is interested in hosting a few thousand zombies on Saturday, July 6. A Kickstarter page will go live soon to raise $30,000 to offset expenses. (As the event grows, so do costs and cleanup—and city permit charges.) They also hope to make the event free for attendees this year. If he had his choice, Reiter would love to see zombie hordes in Gas Works Park or Georgetown, but "we aren't picky." After all, brains are brains. Updated 4/10/13. The zombie walk is back on! Save the date: July 6, Seattle Center, free admission. More to come...

And if you haven't heard, the Family Fourth fireworks display at Lake Union is in need of your help as well. "Does Seattle still want fireworks?" asked (taunted?) long-time fireworks producer One Reel in a press release. Um, yes please. So from now until March 31, One Reel is asking individuals and businesses to help raise money for this summer's celebration. Starbucks, Talking Rain, and Tom Douglas have already signed on to contribute, getting the ball rolling toward the goal of $500,000. Find out more or donate at family4th.org.