The Walking Dead Fandom

    Do you want to be a Walker or a Hero? Would you like to run from hordes of walkers? The show of the walking dead's fans has all of this. The walking dead is a Tv show that came out in 2010 and was an instant hit with fans creating traditions and lore of their own.

(2) Fans as Glenn And Maggie

    Lots of walking dead fans like to dress up and play as iconic characters from the series. Some fans create videos of themselves recreating famous moments from the series. One fan (Who is my friend) made a video of himself recreating the famous lineup scene as Negan(1). Lots of walking dead fans like to cosplay and dress up as characters and walkers from the series. Lots of fans who look similar to the actors in the series dress up and impersonate the characters as if it was actually them. Other fans like to attend comic cons and other meet-ups dressed as characters (2). 

    Some walking dead fans participate in zombie-themed runs and obstacle courses. Participants in these events dress up and act as either zombies or survivors. Fans use make-up, fake blood, and their own props to simulate the apocalypse. The events combine fitness, role-playing and social interaction amongst fans of the series. One of the most popular Walking Dead themed obstacle courses is at the San Diego comic con. The event includes lots of challenges for fans to enjoy the series like they're in the actual show. Fans can run from and dodge walkers and also see some of their favorite character from the show as people who are dressed as them (3). Another run walking dead fans participate in is the "Walking Dead Medal Dash" in which fans submit them running in their own place they want to run and receive a medal in the mail (4).

    Some fans like to show their appreciation for the series by going to the Walking dead museum. The walking dead museum or otherwise called "The Woodbury shop" named for one of the group locations in the show. The museum contains many props and memorable scenes from the TV series. The famous "Don' open, Dead inside" doors are in the museum along with Daryl's motorcycle and crossbow, that fans can get photos with. At this location there is an additional attraction fans can enjoy a bite at called "Nic& Norman's" owned by the actor of Daryl Norman Reedus and producer Greg Nicotero (5).

Rashid Al-Olayan (6)

    Lots of fans like to collect memorabilia from the show and other things produced walking dead. Some fans like to go above and beyond with their collections such as Rashid Al-Olayan who has the biggest collection of Walking Dead memorabilia. Rashid has 3,053 different Walking dead items. He has toys, artwork, books, games, statues, autograph items and even costumes from the post-apocalyptic TV series (6). Other walking dead fans like to spend big on actual props and things that were in the show. Negan's bat "Lucille" was sold at an auction to a fan for $51,600 which is the highest any prop has sold for at auction. other things from the show sold at the auction were Daryl's bike that fetched a price of $32,400, Michone's katana, Rick Grimes' police cruiser and the red handled machete (7).

    One walking dead fan who impersonates the main character of the show Rick Grimes officiates weddings walking dead style. In Senoia Georgia Alan Conlan provides a "Walking Wed" package that is a pre-apocalyptic ceremony for weddings. Fans also like to attend Walker stalker events near filming locations in Georgia where they can purchase merchandise (9). 

 

Sources

(1) Jones K. (2025, December). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HYesk487B5Q

(2) Baumgart, J. (2024a, July 3). The most eerily accurate walking dead cosplays. Ranker. https://www.ranker.com/list/walking-dead-cosplay/jakebaumgart

(3) ThemeParkHD. (2015, July 11). [2015] The Walking Dead Escape : FULL Course : Comic-Con (San Diego, CA). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgy5cqmXCtU&t=279s

(4) “run! the walking dead 5K/10K/13.1” Virtual run. “RUN! THE WALKING DEAD 5K/10K/13.1” VIRTUAL RUN. (n.d.). https://thewalkingdead.medaldash.com/

(5) The Woodbury Shoppe. (n.d.). The Official Walking Dead Store. TheWoodburyShoppe. https://woodburyshoppe.com/

(6) Newman, V. (2024, November 27). The Walking Dead Fan with record memorabilia collection won’t stop until he has it all. Guinness World Records. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2024/11/the-walking-dead-fan-with-record-memorabilia-collection-wont-stop-until-he-has-it-all

(7) Bythrow, N. (2022a, October 17). Negan’s bat outsells Daryl’s motorcycle at Walking Dead Auction. ScreenRant. https://screenrant.com/walking-dead-negan-bat-lucille-daryl-motorcycle-auction/

(8) Guiness World Records. (n.d.). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uadYYbz3b68

(9) Eubanks, C. (n.d.). Experiences for the walking dead super fans | explore Georgia. Explore Georgia. https://exploregeorgia.org/things-to-do/blog/experiences-for-the-walking-dead-super-fans

(10) Walking dead wiki. Walking Dead Wiki. (n.d.). https://walkingdead.fandom.com/wiki/The_Walking_Dead_Wiki