“Thriller” dance performances, Seattle, Redmond and Issaquah, Saturday, Oct. 24.
“The funk of forty thousand years” materializes in Seattle, Redmond and Issaquah on Saturday, Oct. 24, the ninth annual “Thrill the World” day of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dance performances around the world.
The Seattle and Redmond groups have been hosting practices the past few months, but there are plenty of tutorials online to learn the steps to join in local events. Issaquah’s Zombie Walk and Thriller flash mob includes dance practice and makeup starting at 2:30 p.m. for anyone wanting to join the undead.
Michael Jackson’s spooky, entertaining, groundbreaking “Thriller” music-video mini-movie debuted in December 1983 on MTV, an instant pop-culture classic and Halloween-season staple. Each year’s “Thrill the World” event attempts to break world records for most participants as the world’s largest simultaneous dance event to honor Jackson’s legacy and rise money for charities.
Seattle Thrillers
Time: 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24; registration 12:40-2:30 p.m. Saturday
Cost: free; charitable donations collected
Location: Occidental Park, Occidental Avenue South and South Main Street, Seattle; registration under the Pergola, First Avenue and Yesler Way, Seattle
More info: meetup.com/seattlethrillers
Thrill the World, Redmond
Time: Registration, makeup, noon-2:30 p.m.; costume contest, 1 p.m.; dance, 3 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $15/adults, $5/ages 17 and younger, dance only; $25/adults, $15/ages 17 and younger, dance, zombification make up and commemorative photo
Location: Redmond Town Center, 16495 N.E. 74th St., Redmond
More info:thrilltheworld.org/redmond
Downtown Issaquah Zombie Walk
Time: dance practice, make up, 2:30-4:30 p.m.; Zombie walk, 4:30-5 p.m.; dance mob, 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24
Cost: free, including free basic makeup; Ultra Zombie makeup $10
Location: registration and practice, 232 Front St.; dance mob, City Hall, 130 E. Sunset Way, Issaquah
More info:downtownissaquah.com
Thrill the World info:thrilltheworld.com
Pumpkin Bash
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25
Cost: $9.25-$13.75, free for ages 12 and younger in costume, one per paying adult
Location: Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle
More info: 206-548-2500 or zoo.org
Spectators are welcome at the three events. Redmond charges a fee to participate in the performance to benefit First Tee free golf lessons for kids of all backgrounds around King County; the Seattle event collects donations for the Sister Island Project in the Dominican Republic. All events include zombie-costume contests.
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Another popular seasonal event this weekend highlights wild instincts of a different sort, as lions, hippos, meerkats, penguins, wolves, tigers, pigs and other zoo animals stomp, chomp and romp with pumpkin treats as an enrichment activity. The Zoomazium indoor kids playspace is transformed into a Halloween-themed Boomazium with storytelling, puppet shows and games, and kids ages 12 and younger in costume get in free, one per paid adult.