Oakland Cemetery’s Sunday in the Park Festival
Located less than a mile from down town Atlanta, historic Oakland Cemetery is the city’s oldest and one of its largest green spaces. The cemetery began as a public burial ground in 1850 with 6 acres of land and was known as Atlanta Graveyard or City Burial Ground. With the onset of the Civil War, the grounds grew to 48 acres. It was renamed Oakland Cemetery in 1872 and families used to picnic and visit their loved ones buried on the grounds. Families and friends eventually moved away or became too busy and didn’t tend to the graves and the cemetery became neglected.
In 1976, interested parties began reviving the public space, it was listed on the national register of historical places, and these volunteers formed the Historic Oakland Foundation (HOF). The foundation would take over the restoration and maintenance of the cemetery.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Graham and White Rabbit Creative Photography
Every fall for 41 years, the HOF has hosted Sunday in the Park, their annual Victorian festival. It’s built on a tradition of people visiting their dead when they would picnic next to the graves and bring refreshments or sit on the lawns and enjoy the green space. Sunday in the Park is one of many events Oakland hosts throughout the year.
Video Credit: Jennifer Graham
It’s an opportunity to stroll the grounds, listen to performances from bands, barbershop quartets, the Atlanta Opera (this year) see living statues, participate in a Victorian costume contest, eat delicious food, and shop from a local artist market.
It’s one of the very few times in the year one can enter private mausoleums. They usually open select ones for you to see the stain glass windows, hanging fixtures, iron work and engravings. It’s fascinating to see and an amazing opportunity to make use of your photographic skills.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Graham and White Rabbit Creative Photography
This festival is anticipated every year by residents and visitors to experience something you don’t see every day and dress up and live history while still in the land of the living.
