By Pam Henman
Designed to enlighten, not frighten, Oakland Cemetery’s Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween tours boasted record attendees for two weekends in October.
“We had an astounding turnout this year, with tickets selling out faster than ever before,” said Mary Woodlan, director of special events at Historic Oakland Foundation. “It’s a delight to welcome newcomers from around the country as well as groups who make Capturing the Spirit a Halloween tradition.”
On October 17 through 19 and October 23 through 25, Atlanta’s oldest cemetery welcomed more than 6,000 visitors for hour-long evening tours held from 5:30pm to 10:30pm. The cemetery saw a 10% increase in attendees compared to 2013 and raised more than $150,000 that will benefit the Historic Oakland Foundation, which maintains Oakland Cemetery in partnership with the city of Atlanta.
Each year, Capturing the Spirit features six different notables interred at Oakland. This year included appearances from Four Roses bourbon founder Rufus M. Rose; B.F. White, author of The Sacred Harp shapenote songbook; Selena Sloan Butler, founder of the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers Association; Fanny Milledge, a member of the family that established Georgia’s former capital city, Milledgeville; 19th-century local Johnson Bridwell, who met a curious demise; and an unnamed mother mourning her young child buried in Potters’ Field.
Further setting the mood, Capturing the Spirit featured a fortune teller housed in the candlelit Rawson Mausoleum and performances from The Ghosts Project musical collective.
Next year, Oakland will celebrate nine years of Capturing the Spirit on October 23 through 25 and October 29 through 31. Tickets go on sale July 1 for Oakland Cemetery Members and July 15 for the general public.
The Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween tours were sponsored by Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House, Craft Creation & Design, Melwood Springs Water Co., Fulton Cotton Mill Lofts, Tin Lizzy’s Grant Park, H.M. Patterson & Sons, A.S. Turner & Sons, Mezcalito’s Cocina & Tequila Bar, The Republic Social House, Doc Chey’s Grant Park, and Starr Hill Brewing Company.
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