The Capturing the Spirit of Oakland tour held at Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery is back for its 15th year and will be held in person. The tour is one of the most popular events held in Atlanta in October. The spirits of the residents appear on their burial plots to tell you their stories and the history of Georgia during their time on earth. More historical than frightening, it’s an amazing annual opportunity to stroll through the cemetery in the dark with paths lit only by lantern carrying docents and the residents’ plots. The docents and performers are all dressed in period costumes which adds atmosphere to the evening. At night, the backlit city of Atlanta is beautiful to see as you stand among the living and the dead.
This will be the 7th time we've participated in the tour! In a normal year, we'd drive down into the city and eat at Six Feet Under restaurant in Grant Park either before or after the event. It's usually a crisp, fall night and it's thrilling to walk in the enormous cemetery with flashlights. The actors performing as the spirits have always given a good performance and we've enjoyed the music too while waiting for everything to start.
The tours this year are running from October 14th through October 31st. The ticket prices range from children $28 to $40 for adults. Tours usually sell out, but we checked the ticket link. There are still tickets available if you're willing to go early or really late. Late is good for the spookiness of the evening.
Tour description:
Designed to enlighten rather than frighten, Capturing the Spirit of Oakland tours bring to life the stories of some of the cemetery’s notable and notorious residents and allow visitors to experience Oakland Cemetery after dark. A costumed docent guides you through the cemetery’s beautifully lit Victorian Gardens where you’ll meet some of Oakland’s most notable residents.
Source: Historic Oakland Foundation
Here at Poe in Wonderland, we'll be featuring fall and Halloween events regularly as we move into the season. Happy Haunting!
*Cover photo credited to Oakland Cemetery.
