Looking for a Halloween adventure that’s a little more intense than a haunted house? The Shenandoah Zombie Run is returning on Halloween, October 31st, 2026, giving runners the chance to race through wooded trails while being chased by zombies.
The 5K takes place at Camp Shenandoah in Swoope, Virginia, where participants will sprint, jog and strategize their way through the hills and trails of Little North Mountain.
Unlike a traditional road race, this one comes with a twist: you’ll have three flags representing your lives, and zombie runners will try to steal them before you reach the finish line.
Registration is already open, and the current $65 price is scheduled to increase after September 30th, making now a good time to grab a spot if you want to spend Halloween running for your life.
When and where is the Shenandoah Zombie Run taking place?
The Shenandoah Zombie Run 3 — “Not Dead Yet!” will take place on Saturday, October 31st, 2026, making it a particularly fitting way to celebrate Halloween.
The race will be held at Camp Shenandoah, 222 Boy Scout Lane in Swoope, Virginia, along the hills and wooded trails of Little North Mountain.
According to the race listing, the event is scheduled to run from 8:00 am to 11:30 am EDT, with the 5K taking runners through the Camp Shenandoah property.
The setting is part of what makes the race different from an ordinary 5K: rather than simply following a marked road course, participants will be navigating wooded trails and hills while keeping an eye out for the undead.
What to expect if you’re thinking about participating?
The basic premise is simple: humans run, zombies chase.
Human participants get a head start before a siren signals the zombie runners to begin their pursuit. Each human wears three flags, or “lives,” and zombies attempt to grab those flags as they chase runners toward the finish line.
If you manage to protect at least one flag, you survive the apocalypse and finish as a “Survivor.” Lose all three and you become “Infected,” while the zombies get bragging rights based on how many flags they manage to capture.
And you don’t have to worry about leaving empty-handed: every participant receives a medal at the finish line, with the medal reflecting whether you survived or were infected.
The organizers say more details about this year’s course, challenges, rules and overall zombie-apocalypse experience will be released as the event gets closer.
How much does it cost to participate?
Registration for the 2026 Shenandoah Zombie Run is currently $65 through RunSignup.
There’s also a deadline worth knowing if you’re considering signing up: the registration price increases after September 30, 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT.
Since registration is already open, anyone hoping to participate can sign up ahead of Halloween rather than waiting until closer to race day. And with the current price scheduled to increase at the end of September, registering sooner can also lock in the lower listed rate.
All proceeds from the race support the Virginia Headwaters Council of Scouting America, so the Halloween challenge also helps support the organization’s work with young people in the community.
