Zombies will walk again during the fifth annual Pittsburgh Zombie Fest on Saturday at Market Square.

The event has earned Pittsburgh the Guinness Book World Record for "Largest Gathering of Zombies." The first zombie walk was held at the Monroeville Mall in 2006. The event resulted in the world record for the largest gathering of zombies with 894 that year.

The group continued to break its own record in 2007 and 2008, but in 2009, a group in Seattle broke the record with almost 4,000 zombies.

Last year, the event moved to the newly-renovated Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh, and more than 4,000 people attended. Seattle broke the record once more in July with 4,522 zombies.

Mark Menold — also known as Professor Emcee Square on the "It's Alive Show" — is the creator and founder of Zombie Fest. He said he is predicting about 10,000 people in zombie makeup will attend this year's event.

Menold said he hopes to bring the world title back to Pittsburgh.

"Zombies are our own pop-culture bragging right and are a recognized as part of our city's heritage," he said in a press release. "I liken this to another city trying to buy one of our sports teams. It's important that we take the world record back from Seattle. It's a matter of civic pride.”

Zombie Fest will be a full-day celebration—from noon to 9 p.m.—of zombie culture for horror fans of all ages. Volunteer makeup artists will be on hand to transform people into zombies.

There is no cost to attend, but all participants are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank or cash donations for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

During the day, attendees can peruse more than 30 vendors and enjoy entertainment such as celebrity guest appearances and a special performance from The Zombie Opera. Several bands will be performing. 

Participation activities include the “Zombie Olympics,” a brain eating contest (brains are molded from sugar-free jello) and an Ugly Pageant—complete with the crowning a Zombie King and Queen for best zombie make up. 

The crowd also can enjoy a live taping of the "It's Alive Show" to be broadcast as a telethon this Halloween on WBGN in Pittsburgh. 

The day will culminate in "The Walk of the Dead", where all the participants are led in a shambling parade around the city, all the while staying in character as groaning zombies.

For more information about the event, to register or to see a schedule, visit www.pittsburghzombiefest.com.