Zombie Flash Mob Gets Locals Talking about Faneuil Hall
Sometimes the craziest ideas turn out to be some of the best. As Marketing Director of Faneuil Hall Marketplace, it was KP’s job to bring Bostonians back to the marketplace. The mix of retail tenants as well as the daily programming of the historic property had not been changed in over a decade. At one time, that mix of retailers and daily happenings were the reason people frequented America’s first open marketplace. Due to the rise in lifestyle centers in Boston and its surroundings, new destinations for tourists to visit and the e-commerce domination, the mix of uses no longer served as a vehicle to drive foot traffic. In order to draw locals back, KP knew that Faneuil Hall had to change its behavior. We knew that human curiosity was enough to change behavior and motivate locals to go checkout the scene at Faneuil and so we created an experience never before seen in the city: A Flash Mob, Zombie style.
No one, not the media, not the retailers, had any details about the so called ‘event’ before the zombies arrived . As you can imagine, the sheer element of surprise after 400 zombies, decked head to toe in costumes and make-up, came out of no where, stopped shoppers and passerby’s in their tracks. Smartphones were quickly pulled out, pictures were snapped and posted with tweets and posts going viral whithin minutes.
Over the years, Faneuil Hall Marketplace had built a strong partnership with local amusement operator, Canobie Lake Park. This partnership entailed ticket give-a-ways, petting zoos, dunk tanks, character appearances & more. Working closely with Canobie, we took the partnership to a whole new – the ‘Monster Flash Mob’ was born, complete with 400 professional and aspiring dancers dressed in full zombie costume.
Check out the video link below to see the entire production complete with Kiss 108’s Billy Costa emerging from a hurst to lead a choreographed dance on the historic bricks at Faneuil Hall.
On Friday afternoon, dozens of scream-inducing characters descended upon Faneuil Hall, wandering through the marketplace as if they had just awoken from the grave. Then, the music started, and the group broke out in a massive choreographed dance sequence, participating in one of the most frighteningly awesome flash mobs Faneuil Hall has ever seen.
Halloween is just around the corner – so of course Friday would be the perfect time for a zombie flash mob in Boston!