FORT MYERS, Fl. - For the first time, the day of walking dead will now be a full Zombicon convention weekend. 

Rachel Telfor says "We want this to be known as like a zombie destination an the more we grow the more the city grows."

Since it started in 2007, it has doubling every year.  This year, organizers expect 40 thousand people all spending money right here.

"It's definitely a profitable night for everyone downtown," says Casey Wood from the Downtown Pizzeria.

"We expect it to be killer busy, we're going to see a lot of people coming in and out and the streets really to be flooded," says Paul Mazzio with Ford's Garage.

And helping support an event organizers say at the heart is for charity. 

"With the success of 20-12 Zombicon, we are hoping to open our own facility to where we can have art classes for students," says Christopher Fous.

This year's convention will cost almost 170 thousand dollars.  To date, organizers have raised a little over 25 grand... that's before the sales they make that weekend.  In the end, they hope to generate more than 190-thousand dollars.  Monday night, zombiconers pleaded their case for a 30-thousand dollar grant, money that would cover the cost of things like security and street clean-up.  Dollars the city says they don't have.

"Make sure all those groups followed the process... and if there's any discrepency in that I think the first one that should receive any benefits or any additional money if there is some should be zombicon," says Councilman Flanders.

The City gives about 400-thousand dollars to community agency support programs and special events.

"When someone buys a ticket, that ticket shouldn't go to bring a porta potty, it should go towards our charity," Fous adds.

Zombicon organizers are still looking for sponsors to help cover these costs.  Zombicon starts on october 19th.

Go to http://www.zombicon.com/ to find out how you can donate.