SURVIVAL FEST 2025
MAY 30TH -JUNE 1ST
ARCHIVE OF PAST EVENT INFORMATION
THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 SPONSORS
PLATINUM LEVEL
HvZ Athens / Pink Team
Turkey on Behalf of G.L.A.S.S
SCRD
Shadowfire
GOLD LEVEL
Talonaxe Armory
Zombie Intelligence Agency
OUT OF DARTS
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Maryland Foam Alliance
SILVER LEVEL
Associated Support Squads
Silverfox Industries
Containment Crew
BRONZE LEVEL
Keaton Healy
James Grubbs
Gryphons & More
Detroit Dartworks
Old Fusion Designs
Say hello to the 22 individuals serving as your moderators for Survival Fest 2025.
Representing 12 organizations across 7 states, these individuals have brought their unique HvZ cultures together to create one game for you all.
Michael Lacek
Game Director
Grove City College UGC
Pennsylvania
Derrick Porter
Game Moderator
PTC UGC
Pennsylvania
Luke Robertson
Game Moderator/"In Charge"
Geneva College UGC
Pennsylvania
Josh Rubin
Game Moderator
NOMAD
Wisconsin
Bethany Hawke
Game Moderator
Survival Fest
Pennsylvania
Emily Werme
Game Moderator
Charlotte Outdoor Gaming
North Carolina
Tyler Toms
Game Moderator/Zombie Mod
Grove City College UGC
Pennsylvania
Ethan Nakoneczny
Game Moderator/Host Campus Liaison
Bobcat Blasters
Ohio
Kelsey Harman
Game Moderator
Penn State UGC
Pennsylvania
Kevin Woodruff
Game Moderator
PTC UGC
Pennsylvania
Matt Perkins
Game Moderator
DCNC
Pennsylvania
Robbie Lively
Game Moderator
Survival Fest
Ohio
Jordan Weaver
Game Moderator
Grove City College UGC
Pennsylvania
Kyle Mosier
Game Moderator
UMBC HvZ
Maryland
Shannon Rona
Game Moderator/Photographer
PTC UGC
Pennsylvania
Brian Leonard
Game Moderator
Steel City Foam Initiative
Pennsylvania
Nick Molyneaux
Game Moderator/Head Medic
UMBC HvZ
Maryland
Alex Lown
Game Moderator
SDNC
Michigan
Jenna Stanski
Game Moderator
Grove City College UGC
Pennsylvania
Bryn Truppo
Game Moderator/Photographer
UMBC HvZ
Maryland
Travis Amtower
Game Moderator
UMBC HvZ
Maryland
Susie Griffin
Game Moderator/Host Campus Liaison
Bobcat Blasters
Ohio
2025 Host Location
THE ROTUNDA AT WALTER HALL
25 South Green Drive, Athens OH 45701
Doors Open: 10AM | Doors Close: 4PM
PUZZLE SOLVING
ARG PUZZLE
10AM-4PM at the SF Check-In Table
Our ARG team has put together a few puzzles for everyone to take part in during the convention. Stop by the Survival Fest Check-In table to pick up your packet and experience the lore behind the Survival Fest 2025 event.
BRACKETED TOURNAMENT
SIDEARM SHOWDOWN
11AM-NOON Outside Walter Hall
It’s (Almost) HIGH NOON!
Think you’ve got the fastest draw in the area? Step right up to the sidearm showdown, a thrilling 1v1 bracketed tournament where reflexes, aim, and nerves are a must. Armed with Hammershots and limited darts you’ll face off against opponents one at a time - stun or be stunned.
Only one participant can make it to the end of the bracket to gain victory, will it be you?
ROUND-BASED MINI GAME
POLO'S REVENGE
NOON-1PM Outside Walter Hall
Think you’re sneaky? Can your ears pick up the sound of a dart dropping? Join us for a thrilling twist on a classic everyone enjoys. Step into the action as either a player avoiding getting shot, or as the blindfolded player who is sniping all players before you run out of ammo!
WAVE-BASED MINI GAME
THUNDERDOME
1PM-2PM Outside Walter Hall
Step right up to participate in a Thunderdome! This is 1 Human faces waves of zombies while having the exact number of throwables or darts needed to stun each zombie.
Stun them all? Add 1 more zombie, grab 1 more throwable or dart and start the next wave, waves continue until the human gets tagged.
2 or more humans want to take on waves of zombies together? That can be arranged, but you still have the exact amount of throwables or darts needed to stun the zombies in play.
Participant that survives the most waves wins the tournament.
ARENA STYLE HVZ
NATE DEALER'S HERB GARDEN
2PM-3PM Outside Walter Hall
Partake in an arena style HvZ that will get everyone warmed up for Mission 0 later Friday night.
Players will be split into 3 groups of humans and we’ll request Zombie volunteers.
Step into Nate Dealer's Herb Garden, retrieve herbs and escape without getting tagged.
OBSTACLE COURSE TOURNAMENT
PRECISION TARGETING
NOON-3PM Outside Walter Hall
Speed. Focus. Accuracy. Test your accuracy as you race through a fast-paced obstacle course, blasting targets along the way. Navigate the course, take your shots, and compete for the fastest time on the leaderboard. Participants will be able to repeat the course throughout the day, attempting to improve their times. Do you have what it takes to get the fastest time and come out on top?
MODDING COMPETITION
BLASTER BASH
NOON-3PM in Walter Hall Room 245
Remember our Blaster Beauty Pageant from last year?
Well it's back and even better than last year!
Inspired and with blessings given by Mister Nathan and the Merge Masters competition, this years "Blaster Bash" is the perfect opportunity to show off your fanciest self built blasters.
Inspired by works like Supernatural, Gravity Falls, and Stranger Things, a town shrouded in mystery and darkness. This summer players are invited to come unravel the secrets, discover creatures beyond this world, and find what has gone missing. The sins of the past will finally come to light as the disappearance of a young girl named Everleigh Dealer begins to expose that which has been tucked away lurking below the surface.
First off: What Even Is Humans vs Zombies?
Founded on October 25th, 2005 by a small group of students at Goucher College in Baltimore, MD, Humans vs. Zombies (HvZ) at it's core is a hybrid between foam flinging games and tag.
The game consists of two teams:
The Humans whose goal is to complete various mission objectives and tasks.
The Zombies whose goal is to tag humans and convert them over to the ever increasing horde.
The twist: Humans can defend themselves with foam dart blasters and throwables.
2025 Host Location
Ohio University
1 Ohio University Athens, OH 45701
In Partnership with:
Bobcat Blasters
MISSION 0
Gameplay begins Friday night with our "zero consequences" mission where players can get a feel for the campus environment and style of game.
SIDE MISSIONS AND FREE PLAY
Optional HvZ gameplay for those players who want a full, non-stop experience during the weekend via moderated and unmoderated objectives.
MAIN GAME
Standard HvZ gameplay beginning with Missions 1-3 on Saturday and concluding with Missions 4-5 on Sunday.
CLOSING REMARKS
Following the main game there will be a celebration of various player achievements during gameplay.
NOTE: We are playing by World Domination rules, a local tradition/mechanic at Athens. World Domination means that, while specific missions will have boundaries on campus, gameplay DOES NOT STOP when you leave campus boundaries. Roaming the streets of Athens for a meal? You’re in play. Relaxing outside at your Airbnb? Your buddy can tag you! You got your safety briefing and somehow flew across the world? You might avoid the snail, but the zombie can still getcha! With this in mind, there is a lengthy list of no-play zones, such as cemeteries, business & outdoor patios, private property, and more. For the full details on no-play zones and other mechanics, be sure to check out pages 27-28 of the Player Handbook, and brush up on all the other rules & regulations leading up to the game!
- ON-CAMPUS HOUSING & PARKING -
On-campus housing and parking passes are now closed. Use our Hospitality Guide to find affordable accommodations near Ohio University. For parking, if you did not purchase a pass you may pay for parking at standard rates during Survival Fest.
