By Thornton Kennedy
For the seventh straight year, Historic Oakland Foundation presents Capturing the Spirit of Oakland – 2012 Halloween Tours on October 25-28, the only time the cemetery’s gates are open after dark.
Due to popularity, the first Historic Oakland Foundation is adding a fourth night. The 162-year-old cemetery’s annual Halloween tours feature several of Oakland’s eternal “residents” who tell their stories. The 2012 tours feature stories about people who helped make Atlanta the great city it is today, as well as tales of murder and mayhem. Tickets sell out quickly and are on sale now.
“The atmosphere is eerie and the stories are compelling,” said Historic Oakland Foundation Executive Director David Moore. “The walkways, graves and mausoleums are illuminated by moonlight, torches, holiday lights, and candlelight.”
Halloween tour visitors are encouraged to bring a flashlight and wear comfortable walking shoes. Costumes are welcome. Tours last approximately one hour and will depart from the Bell Tower. Guests will also enjoy musical entertainment and fortune telling throughout the evening.
Refreshments, including beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks will be available for purchase before and after the tours. The Museum Shop, featuring a unique array of books and cemetery-related items for sale, will be open during the tours.
Tickets are $20.00 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. The tour is most appropriate for children eight and older. Tickets are available on Oakland Cemetery’s website, www.oaklandcemetery.com, and must be purchased in advance. Visitors must have their tickets to enter the cemetery. To ensure all ticket holders are accommodated, tours are sold in timed increments, and a limited number of tickets are available.
Oakland Cemetery would like to thank its 2012 Halloween Tour sponsors: Six Feet Under; Tin Lizzy’s; Craft Creation and Design, LLC; Melwood Springs; A. S. Turner and Sons; Atlanta InTown; Mindpower, Inc.; The Stacks; Fulton Cotton Mill Lofts; H. M. Patterson and Sons Springhill; Woo Design; Wilmington Trust; Café of Life Chiropractic Center – Dr. April Warhola; Republic Social House; and Doc Chey’s.
Oakland Cemetery is located at 248 Oakland Avenue. Limited free parking is available near the main cemetery entrance and on neighboring streets. Due to the event, parking inside the cemetery is not possible. Carpooling or taking MARTA to the King Memorial Station is recommended. There is no rain date. In case of a severe weather cancellation, ticket holders will receive, via the mail, a free pass for a future guided tour at Oakland. For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/capturingHalloween.html.
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