When she heard the news Tom Petty had died, Mary Soracco set a plan in motion that’s been in the back of her mind since around 1989.

That’s the year “Free Fallin'” hit.

“He filmed the video at the Galleria – before the Northridge earthquake, of course, because it’s totally different now; but still, it’s the Galleria,” the Sunland/Tujunga-based jewelry designer says (although the mall scenes in the video were actually shot at the Westside Pavilion). “So the plan is to meet at 7 o’clock on the steps at the corner of Sepulveda and Ventura Boulevard with all of us wearing black. We’re just going to move west on Ventura Boulevard as he sings in the song.”

Since posting this idea for a “Tom Petty Memorial Vampire Walk,” it’s been shared and shared again on social media. More than 150 people expressed interest in attending the all-ages gathering as of the morning of this writing.

Soracco insists that for her it isn’t about fandom. She’s never been a big fan of the Heartbreakers’ frontman who died Monday night. She describes herself as a “goth” type. But she always got a chuckle out of the lyric “all the vampires, walkin’ through the valley” because she says, “I’m one of those vampires.”

Still, the walk is a tribute to Petty and his song that, at least to Soracco, memorializes her community.

It’s meant to be respectful.

“We’re not going to scream through people’s neighborhoods, but maybe sing at least the second verse as we’re walking down Ventura Boulevard,” she says. “I’m hoping I can get people to sing it; I’m going to try. We’ll see how cooperative everyone is feeling.”

Tom Petty Memorial Vampire Walk

When: 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19

Where: Sherman Oaks Galleria, 15301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks

Information: https://tinyurl.com/yawtepej