Afternoon trick-or-treaters visiting Langley are in for a surprise this year.

On Oct. 31, Zombie dancers will take to the sidewalks as part of a not-so-secret flash mob set to a classic Halloween tune – Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

Passersby can expect to see action around 3:30 p.m. outside of Callahan’s glass shop and around 4 p.m. outside of Double Bluff Brewing Company’s new location, both on Second Street.

For the past decade, Daunne Zinger has been organizing the annual South Whidbey flash mob choreographed to the 1982 hit. This year, she decided to go public about its occurrence for the first time ever.

Previous flash mob locations have included Bayview Corner, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and the produce section of the Goose Grocer.

“That was a riot,” Zinger recalled.

The dancers, which number about 30 this year, have been rehearsing since the beginning of October to a modified, simpler version of the song’s original choreography. The age of participants ranges from 5 to mid-80s.

“We’ve not really had kids before, so this has been really nice to have children and their parents who have been willing to participate as well,” Zinger said.

The flash mob is an offshoot of Thrill the World, an international group that promotes dancing to “Thriller” all over the globe.

An instructor at Island Dance, Zinger convinced her core group of Luigi Jazz Dancers to take part in the flash mob with the help of one of her students, Sue Jobst. Zinger said Jobst has been instrumental in teaching the choreography and advising dancers on zombie makeup, costumes and hairdos. News of the flash mob spread by word of mouth, and even more dancers have joined over the years.

Probably the most humorous recruitment of this year happened when Zinger stopped by Double Bluff Brewing Company last week to check out the venue’s sound system. Three members of the brewery’s mug club spontaneously decided to join the flash mob when they heard about it.

Those who come to see the show on Tuesday might recognize at least one familiar face. Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon, who represents the district of South Whidbey, is planning to be front and center during the flash mob. Zinger said Bacon is one of her students, and has taken tap dancing from her before.

“I’ll be the zombie commissioner out in the front,” Bacon said.

Zinger is especially excited about using Callahan McVay’s fog machine outside of his glass-blowing studio and store.

Photo provided