EVANS CITY — Zombie movie fans from across the country were in the borough Saturday for the Living Dead Weekend.

The event honored the cult classic film “Night of the Living Dead,” which was filmed in and around the borough in 1968 and “The Crazies,” filmed in 1972.

Many actors and crew members from those films were available for chats and autographs, drawing in spectators from across the country. A few even came from as far away as the United Kingdom and Norway.

Russ Streiner, who played Johnny Blair in “Night of the Living Dead,” said meeting with fans was one of the best parts of the events.

“That's part of the push of the whole thing,” he said. “People are driving hours just to come to the hometown of “Night of the Living Dead.” That's what makes this weekend so special.”

One man getting Streiner's autograph recounted first meeting the actor in 1991. Steiner said those stories show the connection of fans and the film.

“There are many people who are part of the Living Dead family,” he said. “I look at this as a family reunion of sorts.”

Streiner said he was thankful that the borough has embraced the movie.

“There's a strong bond between Evans City and the Living Dead,” he said.

The event included screenings of “Night of the Living Dead” and “The Crazies,” arts, crafts and horror stands, zombie carnival games, a ghoul scavenger hunt, pumpkin carving, movie scene tours, a pet walk of the Living Dead costume parade and contest and a chain saw sculptor.

The historical marker designating Evans City as the filming location of the cult classic also was unveiled on Friday afternoon on the public library's property.

Streiner said the film was influential to the influx of zombie stories in popular culture, including hit television shows like “The Walking Dead.”

“At the time (of filming) we expected it to be around for a couple of years,” he said. “Here we are, 47 years later and there are people from all over the world coming to appreciate it.”

Ella Mae Smith, who still lives in a house near a filming location, said she loves to see people visit Evans City for the movie.

“There was a girl here from Norway,” she said.

Smith said she and her late husband were sitting in their yard when they were approached by the film's producers to play ghouls.

“My husband said no way at first, but I said it sounded good to me,” she said. “I didn't like those kind of movies, but it was a lot of fun.”

Smith said she is happy to see the borough welcome the weekend event.

“I think it's something that should have been done a long time ago,” she said. “I remember years ago there was a movie store downtown and I went in to buy (the film) and it wasn't even there.”

Michael Crespo and Heather Pepin of Feeding Hills, Mass., drove 10 hours to experience the weekend.

“I heard about it through Facebook,” Crespo said. “I've been a fan of the movie since I was 8 years old, so we made the trek.”

Crespo said they were partaking in each of the various activities Friday and Saturday and were getting autographs of actors in attendance.

Pepin said she was enjoying her time in the borough. “It's a really nice town,” she said. “It reminds me a lot of Salem, Mass. All the people are nice and easy to talk to.”

Melinda Brown of Niles, Ohio, was watching over her grandchildren at the festival.

“I loved the movie and got my kids into it when they were growing up, and now their kids are watching,” she said.

Brown's grandchildren Donavan, 8, and Taylor, 7, both said they are big fans of “The Walking Dead” television show.

“I (also) like “Return of the Living Dead,” Donavan said. “But I don't get why they had zombies in canisters.”

Both children said they were having fun seeing the zombie weekend.

“I liked getting my face painted like a zombie,” Donavan said.