By Angie Wynne
March and April are filled with fun, family-friendly opportunities to celebrate spring at Oakland Cemetery:
Phoenix Flies, Atlanta Preservation Center’s annual celebration of historic sites, comes to Oakland on March 14 and 16 for a fascinating “Geology in the Cemetery” walking tour led by Oakland’s own director of preservation, Ashley Shares.
On March 9 and 21, Oakland hosts the family-friendly “Cemeteries Rock! A Geology Walk at Oakland Cemetery” as part of the Atlanta Science Festival.
April 13 offers a full day of fun at Oakland. The Spring Plant Sale, a neighbor favorite, kicks off the day. Stick around after the sale to celebrate spring and sustainability at the inaugural “Spring to Life” family festival. Take a guided tour of Oakland’s gardens, meet wildlife ambassadors from AWARE Wildlife Center, visit with local environmental organizations, get creative with some environmentally themed crafts, shop the vendor market, and much more.
The day wraps up with a 1K ‘Run Like Heck” fun run for kids 16 and under followed by the largest cemetery run in the country, the Run Like Hell 5K. This unique evening 5K will wind through Oakland’s landscape, showcasing the beauty of spring in the cemetery. Participants are welcome to bring their leashed dogs and strollers to the race, and costumes for both people and pets are highly encouraged! After the 5K, stick around for an awesome after-party hosted at Republic Social House right across the street from Oakland.
Finally, Atlanta’s premier after-dark spring arts event, Illumine, returns to Oakland from April 18 through 28. Explore parts of the Cemetery after dark and experience unique lighting designs, interactive art installations and live music. Want to experience Illumine from the comfort of the Oakland Bell Tower? The Illumine VIP experience includes exclusive access to the Bell Tower, complimentary sweet treats and drinks, and fun glow-in-the-dark accessories! Grab your tickets today.
As always, Historic Oakland Foundation invites you to join any of its March and April guided walking tours of the Cemetery. Tours happen Saturdays, Sundays, and select Wednesdays. For information and tickets, visit www.oaklandcemetery.com/calendar.
