The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden will play host to the zombie apocalypse this spring as the City of Trees’ becomes the City of The Walking Dead for the first annual Claremont Zombie Run on Saturday, May 3.

Claremont’s inaugural fun run is a departure from the staple Claremont celebrations or the recent influx of quirky 5Ks like the Fairplex’s Color Run and Bonelli Park’s Tough Mudder. The object in this three-kilometer race is to navigate the trailheads teeming with crawling creatures and come out with limbs and flags intact. A maze of paths to choose from, some of which end in a pit full of monsters, add further mayhem to the madness.

From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. the usually tranquil botanic garden will be abuzz with the outbreak and other post-apocalyptic celebrating, including a beer garden, live entertainment and other family-friendly indulgences like a children’s activity center, bounce house, carnival games and refreshments.

There are no age restrictions on plunging into the zombie-infested course, but for those little ones not inclined for a scare, a special, separate course will be available

In addition to providing some good, old-fashioned gory fun, the event is also about raising awareness and funds for a few good causes. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the local botanic garden as well as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Red Cross will also be on scene to collect blood donations.

Entrance into the outbreak is $50 per person. The price continues to rise as the date of the race approaches. Eventgoers are welcome to sit and watch the carnage or participate in any or all of the day’s 10 races and will walk away with a free event T-shirt and admission into the rest of the garden’s exhibitions that day. Make it out of the hordes of zombies with one of your flags and also earn a free beer or other drink of choice. For more information, visit www.claremontzombierun.com.

—Beth Hartnett

news@claremont-courier.com

The Basics:

WHAT: Claremont Zombie Run
WHEN: Saturday, May 3 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: RSABG, 1500 N. College Ave.
INFO: www.claremontzombierun.com