Zombie zone

Over the past year, dressing up as zombies has become vogue in the Tampa Bay area, and, with Halloween approaching, the undead will be out in force the next couple of weeks.

What started out as a group of kids who liked to get dressed up has grown into an area movement largely due to the Deadite Empire, Tampa Bay's first zombie social club.

"We noticed a growing zombie trend nationally, and just thought to start it up here," said Bridgette Fisch, who co-founded the club with Jesse Fisch.

The Deadite Empire is not alone in offering options for a zombie night out. Here are some upcoming highlights:

• The Spooky Empire Ultimate Horror Weekend brings three days of films, special effects seminars, horror celebrities and more to Orlando's Wyndham Resort, 8001 International Drive. One highlight is a zombie walk sponsored by the Deadite Empire at 4 p.m. Friday. Find details at spookyempire.com and myspace.com/the_deadite_empire.

• The Pegasus Lounge in Tampa features a zombie night once a month. This month, it's a Zombie Fetish Party, beginning at 10 p.m. Sunday at 10008 N 30th St. (813) 971-1679; pegasusniteclub.com.

• Interchangeable Parts, which performs The Rocky Horror Picture Show weekly at the Beach Theatre in St. Pete Beach, will host zombie night Oct. 25. Night of the Living Dead will begin at 9 p.m., followed by a performance by the Funeral Dazies, an all-zombie punk band. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with the live cast dressed as zombies, rounds out the night. Admission is $7 for one movie, $10 for the double feature. For details, go to beachtheatre.com or ip.rhps.org.

• World Zombie Day is Oct. 26, and festivities begin in the Tampa Bay area at 5 p.m. at Dirty Shame in Ybor City. For more details, go to myspace.com/worldzombieday and myspace.com/the_deadite_empire.