Downtown Johnson City First Friday

Michael Johns was the first to make it through six check points and return to home base without being tagged by a Zombie! Congratulations Michael!! Survive Johnson City with 1,350 official recorded participant could put Johnson City TN in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest game of two haneded tag!!

SURVIVE JOHNSON CITY – GAME RULES

1. Players will come to the game wearing a white t-shirt under a black t-shirt. When a human player is tagged with both hands by a zombie they will remove the black t-shirt and become zombies. This way zombies will be easily identifiable by their white t-shirts.

2. After a “kill” the attacker must take the kill token, and count out ten seconds. Thats one-thousand, two-thousand, etc. before continuing on. No rapid fire 1-2-3-zzz10 like when we were kids, Give those poor humans a chance. Take this time to enjoy being a zombie: nibble on the brains of your fresh kill, take in the scenery a bit. No tagging six people in a row and then going back to get their tokens. Human victims must only change their shirts before starting their own killing spree.

3. Zombies can run, jump, climb, and even talk. Yeah yeah thats not real zombies, for the sake of the game we have taken liberties with what qualifies as “zombie.” Just go with it.

4. If asked directly, players must answer whether they are in the game or not. This will help avoid any mix-ups with civilians.

5. A small item yet to be revealed will be given to each player before the game starts. When a player is tagged they will hand that item over to their “killer” so that a kill count for each zombie can be assessed at the end of the game.

6. Going indoors is prohibited unless it’s for the restroom. Don’t hide from the zombies in a bar like a little bitch. Get out there and mix it up.

7. Checkpoints will consist of a stamp that will be placed on either the players’ skin or a piece of paper, at the players’ discretion. Checkpoints will be surrounded by small “Safe Zones” where zombies cannot tag players.
They do not have to be achieved in order.

8. Game must be played on foot. If you can’t walk then a wheelchair or powerchair is fine. No cars though since they are too enclosed and too fast for the zombies to have a chance. Remember it’s as much about being sneaky as about being fast. You don’t have to be fast to win the game. If you think you are physically unable to play, please consider being a volunteer. We need a person at each checkpoint to be in charge of the stamps and to make sure people play by the rules.

9. Humans can not, unfortunately, “kill,” “stun,” or otherwise incapacitate zombies. Having the tagging only go one way helps minimize arguments over who tagged who first.

10. Water guns, airsoft, nerf guns, any simulated or real weapons: Leave ‘em at home. If you’re a die hard airsoft player or super soaker enthusiast send me a message, I might have a different event in mind for you guys. But Survive Johnson City is a game of tag, bringing fake guns will not only invite several problems, but its also illegal within city limits.

11. We aren’t your mothers, but please behave. By all means have a GREAT time, but don’t vandalize property, assault anyone, or otherwise commit some sort of crime. This isn’t a real world zombie apocalypse situation – this is a friendly game of tag. Keep this in mind as you play. It will help ensure your safety, keep us out of any legal hot water, and will make future events such as this possible.

Friends of Olde Downtowne working in conjunction with the Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County Chamber of Commerce announces the 2010 Christmas Parade through downtown Johnson City is scheduled for Friday, December 3^rd, 7:00 p.m.  The Parade theme is simply “Christmas” and will follow the same route as last year’s parade, estimated to last approximately 90 minutes. 

Parade participants will include parade floats sponsored by local merchants and business groups, churches, area high school marching bands, civic organizations and of course Santa Clause.  The Parade precession will line up at the former Burley Tobacco lot at State of Franklin and Legion Street.  One lane of Legion Street will be dedicated to emergency thru traffic.  The Parade will begin by tuning left onto State of Franklin Road traveling west to Downtown Loop, turning right onto Buffalo Street and continuing onto East Main Street, with the disbandment in the Cranberry Street parking lot on Lonnie Lowe Lane.

Other Parade activities begin at 3pm with Hands On! Museum offering half price admission.  At 6pm, everyone may participate in voting for “Favorite Window” as part of the Christmas Store Front Display contest.  The Johnson City Evening Rotary Club is hosting a chili dinner at Girl’s Inc., the Celebration Children’s Choir returns again this year singing in Majestic Park, and Christmas Bell Ringers performing in the lobby of the King’s Centre.            

 Also, as an extra treat for the Children, Santa Clause will return to downtown Saturday, December 11th to visit with every child to check their christmas list.   Details to follow…