A mob of more than 170 zombies descended on City Plaza on Saturday for Thrill The World, an international event where participants dress up as zombies and simultaneously dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in an attempt to break a world record.

Joey Mishiri, a first-time audience member who came to cross-promote his upcoming musical about Michael Jackson, was fascinated by the event.

“I love the fact that it is supposed to be happening simultaneously nationwide,” Mishiri said. “So it is like, we are trying to break a world record and I think it is cool that Chico is trying to be a part of that.”

Chico has been hosting the event for five years and the town is a perfect fit for Thrill the World, said event coordinator Cathy Tuttle.

“Chico is such a special place that can host a wacky event where hundreds of zombies are dancing to Thriller,” Tuttle said.

Friends of the Arts sponsored the event and all of the profits will go to Arts For All, a non-profit parent booster club that tries to keep art education in the Chico schools.

This year the event raised $645, adding up to over $2000 over the past five years, Tuttle said.

Megan Bowser can be reached at [email protected] or @theorion_news on Twitter