By Historic Oakland Foundation
We have shaken off the chill of February (at least for now!) and despite spring officially starting on March 20, we are officially calling it Spring at Oakland Cemetery!
First, we have to thank the community members who’ve stopped through the new Oakland Visitor Center during our soft opening and shopped at the new Oakland Store. As we gear up for our big grand opening, ribbon cutting ceremony, and community events during the first week of April, Oakland is already busy and blooming – have you seen those daffodils? We’re excited to share some new offerings for our Oakland community:
Celebrating Women’s History Month @ Oakland Tours: In celebration of Women’s History Month, Oakland Cemetery is highlighting the women of Oakland Cemetery via two tour opportunities:
The Women of Oakland Tour [March 8] highlighting women of Atlanta – from writers and domestic servants to reformers and mothers, Oakland is home to thousands of women. Hear their stories of pioneering, producing, and patriarchy-smashing during this 60-minute guided walking tour that challenges the myth of Southern womanhood by uncovering the true social and personal histories of Atlanta’s women. To reserve your space, visit www.oaklandcemetery.com/events/sights-symbols-and-stories-general-tour-78/2025-02-01-l7ape-lj5pr-t5syw-m6zyk?rq=Women%20of%20Oakland.
Homeschool Day: Trailblazing Women of Oakland Tour [March 25] is designed for Homeschool families to join us in celebrating Women’s History Month with a full day of programming to honor the historic women who helped build Atlanta and contemporary women who are still shaping the world today through a variety of interactive educational activities. To reserve your space, visit www.oaklandcemetery.com/events/homeschool-day-trailblazing-women-of-oakland.
Additional events are planned for April and beyond:
April 3: Oakland Visitor Center Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting. Join us at the new Oakland Visitor Center to celebrate our grand opening, tour the new building and green space, and visit the Oakland Store for exclusive giveaways and Oakland merchandise. Stay tuned to our website and social channels for more details.
April 4 & 5: Spring Plant Sale – Member Preview & General Public. Join us for two days of our annual Spring Plant Sale – April 4 for members and April 5 for the general public to shop a great selection of interesting and hard-to-find plants. The sale will take place at Oakland Cemetery’s Magnolia Square beginning on Friday, April 4. For more information, visit www.oaklandcemetery.com/events/spring-plant-sale.
April 5: Spring to Life Family Festival. Join us at Oakland for one of the best Saturdays of the year – the Spring to Life Family Festival. On Saturday, April 5, celebrate all things spring with us at our FREE family festival in Magnolia Square! Come for the Spring Plant Sale and stay for the Festival! Participating in our Run Like Hell 5K? Come early and enjoy this free event. More details are available at www.oaklandcemetery.com/events/spring-to-life-family-festival.
April 5: Run Like Hell 5K. The largest cemetery run in the country and now an official Peachtree Road Race Qualifier, Run Like Hell is one of Atlanta’s favorite neighborhood 5K fundraisers, with all proceeds going to the restoration and preservation of historic Oakland Cemetery. This year’s race returns to Oakland for the third year in a row, showcasing the beauty of Oakland’s gardens and lush canopy. Participants are encouraged to “run like hell” while the Oakland grounds are “pushing up daisies!” This unique evening 5K will take place at Oakland Cemetery on April 5 at 5:00pm and costumes are encouraged. To learn more and register, visit www.oaklandcemetery.com/events/run-like-hell-5k-2025.
April 7 – 11: Spring Break Camp. Discover the great outdoors this spring with an active adventure camp! Campers will go on nature hikes, try their hands at beginner-level survival skills, and play tons of outdoor games. It’s a perfect mix of fun and play for kids who love nature and being active. Each day is a new adventure where campers learn the basics of survival, tackle obstacle courses, and explore natural habitats. There will be exciting games, storytelling, hands-on discovery, scavenger hunts, and plenty of adventure. Register your camper at www.oaklandcemetery.com/events/outdoor-adventures-spring-break-camp.
April 17 – 20 and April 24 – 27: illumine with curatorial partner Cat Eye Creative. illumine, Oakland Cemetery’s annual signature after-dark arts event, is returning in April with new curatorial partner Cat Eye Creative. For two consecutive weekends in April, Oakland becomes a gallery for local and international artists to explore and experiment with creative light-centered art installations. Featured artists include Vanna Black, Kevin Chambers, FRKO, Bojana Ginn, Angie Jerez, Navin June Norling, and VAYNE. Tickets are on sale now at oaklandcemetery.com/illumine-2025.
June 2 – July 25: Summer Camp. Registration for Oakland 2025 Summer Camps is now open. Available for kids ages 6 through 11, our summer camp, with eight (8) 5-day sessions, has a different theme every week to keep campers engaged and excited to learn. To register your child and view the list of 2025 camp themes, visit www.oaklandcemetery.com/oakland-camps.
