Asbury Park Zombie Walk is dead. Will you mourn it?

It is a day of mourning for the undead.

Jason Meehan, organizer of the annual New Jersey Zombie Walk in Asbury Park, announced the 'death' of the annual event in a Facebook post Thursday.

"As the Zombie Walk had grown exponentially over its last few years, so did everything that comes along with planning it, principally the amount of money it cost to be able and allowed to host the event," Meehan wrote.

He said every attempt has been made to save the hugely popular yearly procession, but the size, cost, and operating issues mixed with the changing landscape in Asbury Park has made the cancellation unavoidable.

New Jersey 101.5 has been a past participant, with Big Joe Henry broadcasting live from the boardwalk last year.

Meehan had been adamant about keeping the walk free, but does not believe that is not possible anymore.

"Each year our budget has seen unavoidable increases, making it increasingly difficult to raise the funds required to produce the walk without turning it into something more akin to a ticketed convention or festival," he posted.

The event began in 2007 as a small and fun gathering of decrepit souls, who arrived in full costume, makeup and gore, on the Asbury Park Boardwalk.

It quickly grew in popularity with exploding attendance every year, twice making the Guiness World Record books for "largest gathering of zombies" in 2010 and 2013.  Attendance peaked in 2013 with 9,562 zombies turning out for the walk.

Meehan hopes to formally bury the New Jersey Zombie Walk this fall.

"Funeral services are tentatively being planned for Saturday, Oct. 3," Meehan wrote. "The Asbury Park Boardwalk and I are hoping to put together something truly special and I pray that we can make it happen."

Will you miss the zombie walk? Tweet your favorite pictures from years past to @NJ1015.

Past coverage:

• Asbury Park Reclaims Zombie Walk World Record

• SEE PHOTOS: Asbury Park Zombie Walk with Big Joe 10/4/14