Newquay’s Biggest Zombie Crawl Haunts the Streets: Over 1,500 Join in Spooky Festivities

Photo Credit: Simon Maycock

This past Saturday, Newquay was overrun by thousands of ghoulishly dressed participants in the South West’s largest Zombie Crawl, making for a spine-chilling spectacle. Organised by the Newquay Business Improvement District (BID) in collaboration with Experience Newquay, the event saw over 1,500 children, families, and even pets parade through the town, donning frightful costumes and embracing the Halloween spirit.

A Haunting Success

The Zombie Crawl, which began at 3pm, attracted a variety of creatures with participants clad in eerie attire, bringing a festival atmosphere to the town’s main street. From babies to adults, the crowd gathered to show off their most terrifying costumes before the event culminated at several establishments where “Spooky Discos” continued the night. For those over 18, Newquay’s nightclubs and bars extended the Halloween celebrations late into the night.

“Everyone’s still buzzing after a frightfully successful Zombie Crawl,” said Mark Warren, Newquay BID Manager. “The atmosphere was electric, and the costumes were quite terrifying! We’re so grateful for the support of everyone involved, including all the businesses, in making this the biggest and scariest Zombie Crawl yet.” Warren also encouraged visitors to explore Newquay’s other Half Term offerings by visiting the Love Newquay website.

Family Workshops and Free Activities

The festivities weren’t just limited to the crawl itself. Prior to the main event, families had the chance to take part in themed workshops throughout the town. Activities included face painting, zombie outfit-making sessions, pop-up dance classes, scary storytelling, and wound-making workshops—all provided free of charge. These sessions were held in various locations across the town, engaging BID businesses and drawing locals and visitors alike.

Support from Cornwall’s Good Growth Fund

Spooky Newquay is one part of a broader effort to revitalise Newquay’s town centre, with backing from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund through Cornwall Council’s Good Growth Fund. Experience Newquay, a project designed to strengthen the town’s year-round visitor economy, provided significant support for this event, including £365,426 of funding through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme. This programme, which forms part of Good Growth’s “Town, Rural and Coastal High Street Development and Skills Programme,” aims to sustain local enterprises by enhancing town centres and neighbourhood shopping areas.

To learn more about how the Shared Prosperity Fund is benefiting communities like Newquay, visit the Good Growth website.

Newquay’s Zombie Crawl stands as a testament to the town’s community spirit and dedication to creating memorable experiences, making it a must-see Halloween destination in Cornwall.

Photo Credit: Simon Maycock

Photo Credit: Love Newquay