Photo Story: Winona Zombie Crawl returns for 15th year

Mohammed Islam and McKenna Scherer
September 15, 2021

Todd Hanson (upper right) talking to Will and Kady (middle-bottom) on the steps of Island City Brewing Co. during the 15th Winona Zombie Crawl. Creator of Winona’s zombie crawl, Todd Hanson, said the event used to be kept as hush- hush as possible to surprise the town, but by its 15th year, “the cat’s out of the bag,” he said. Now, fliers are created, there is an official website and a Facebook page to advertise the local event. Hanson was inspired to start the Winona area’s own zombie crawl 15 years ago after attending the Minneapolis area’s own zombie-style bar crawl. Since the Minneapolis-area crawl has discontinued, the Winona Zombie Crawl is now the longest running in the country. (Mohammed Islam)
Megan and Todd Hanson (right) near the $5 zombie makeup and beer tabling area outside of Island City Brewery. The Hansons also celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary during the 15th Winona Zombie Crawl on Sat., Sept. 11. “If you love someone when you look [like a “zombie”], then it must be forever,” said T. Hanson. M. Hanson said this year was particularly special because of their anniversary, but that it is also an all around “fun experience” every year. (Mohammed Islam)
Winona Zombie Crawl creator, Todd Hanson, undead-ing it up. (McKenna Scherer)
Alexa Vandonselaar (right) and William Cowart (left) participated in the 15th Winona Zombie Crawl on Saturday, Sept. 11 outside of Island City Brewery. It is their second time taking part in the Crawl. (Mohammed Islam)
Calvin Corey, owner of Newspace Junk Removal, drinking an Island City Brewing beer during the Zombie Crawl event. The Crawl included participation from several local bars, including Port 507, No Name Bar, Market Street Tap LLC, Lucky’s on Third and others until bar close. Live music occurred at many of the Crawl’s stops along with themed drink deals, including $3 mixed drinks “for zombies” at Port 507, “Zom- bie Brain Shots” and “Corpse Reviver #2 cocktails” at No Name Bar and more. The event stretched across Winona’s downtown area thanks to the participation from so many local bars and its no-cost fee. The event’s official website boasts, “NO COVERS! NO WRISTBANDS! NO BULL$H*T!” This year’s Crawl was sponsored by several bars as well as Island City Brewing Co. and Wenonah Creates. (Mohammed Islam)
Megan Hanson (right) painting “zombie” makeup onto a child while sitting with her mother outside of local Island City Brewery Co. in downtown Winona (The Winonan was given permission to photograph by parental guardian). M. Hanson’s husband, Todd Hanson, brought the now-annual Zombie Crawl to Winona 15 years ago after being inspired by Minneapolis’s own Zombie Crawl, which has now been discontinued. Now, T. Hanson said, Winona’s annual Zombie Crawl is the longest-running Crawl in the world. The Hanson’s supplied makeup, disposable makeup sponges and plates, etc. for this year’s event after taking a hiatus last year due to COVID-19. (McKenna Scherer)