They staggered along Main and Partition streets calling for brains, looking for tasty morsels to sate their raging hunger for human flesh — and maybe a draft beer or two. They left behind surprised locals and smiling merchants, the latter, grim reapers of the financial benefits brought by scores of walking dead looking for a good time.

More than 150 zombie fans, decked out in their most putrid attire, roamed village streets last Saturday, October 16 as part of a zombie crawl organized by lead zombie and former village resident Jamie “Captain Cruella” Moxham.

But unlike the pub crawls that inspired the event, which are traditionally adult, often undergraduate, affairs, the Saugerties Village Zombie Crawl attracted many families. It had the feeling of an all-ages, Halloween block party.

Moxham called the inaugural Zombie Crawl a huge success, as did merchants and participants. Numerous businesses stayed open late and planned activities to coincide with the event, including a zombie-themed reading at Inquiring Minds and various food and drink specials at the village’s many eateries. (One of the favorites at Main Street Restaurant was a blood red martini with a human eyeball rather than an olive.)

“I’m just elated with how things turned out,” said Moxham. “Everyone from the village leaders, to the merchants, the participants have been terrific.”

She said she hopes to organize another crawl next year, and expects it will attract even more participants.

Nick Puma and his two sons, Jonah, 10, and Tobi, 7, of Catskill, came dressed as zombified members of the band Kiss, “It’s a terrific evening for the family,” Nick said.

Even Mother Nature smiled upon the zombies with a warm, balmy (for October) evening.

“What a great excuse to dress up,” said Nicole Mower of Saugerties.

“We all used to dress up for Halloween as kids and now we can do it as adults,” said Mower’s friend, Lee Zoid of Kingston, while they and friend Valerie Winrow of Saugerties enjoyed a nosh at the Main Street Restaurant.

Rhianna Rodriguez, who along with her husband Jorge, own the Main Street Restaurant, said they participated as a way of showing support for the town business district and, as Rhianna says, “I love Halloween.”

“This is a real boost for use, especially during this time in October when businesses begin to slow down, after the leaf-peepers have left,” Rhianna said.

McKinsey and Mark Lackenbacher, who own Marky Marks Tattoos on Main Street, go all out each Halloween to make their storefront a particularly scary affair. They were inspired to take part in the crawl, “because many of our clients got involved and were very enthusiastic about this,” Mark said.

The owners of Inquiring Minds Bookstore, Lucky Chocolates, and Dave’s Coffee and Wine Bar on Partition Street also raved about the friendliness of the zombies.

“It not only brought locals into the shops, but it also brought people from out of the area who might not have been familiar with Saugerties to town,” one business owner said. “Now they know what we have to offer and maybe they will come back again…Even if they are dragging a body part or two.”