Every year historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia, hosts a special event in their gardens. Illumine is an art installation that tells a story as you walk the grounds at dusk all set against the city skyline. It's nothing short of magical to be in the cemetery at night. This year the installation revolves around the newly restored African American burial grounds and the Women's Comfort station. It will highlight the stories of the individuals who created and managed them.
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From the Oakland Cemetery site:
About the event
Illumine, Historic Oakland Foundation’s annual after-dark arts experience, returns to Oakland Cemetery this April with new history to uncover, new sections of the cemetery to explore after dark, and all-new artistic installations set against the inspiring backdrop of Atlanta’s skyline.
Throughout the cemetery, innovatively lit headstones, mausoleums, flowers, trees, and buildings will showcase Oakland Cemetery’s exquisite spring gardens along with the Foundation’s restoration efforts. Postponed from 2020, this year’s Illumine will shine a light on the historic African American Burial Grounds and the newly restored 1908 Women’s Comfort Station. Through light, shadow, texture, and sound, Illumine will share the stories of Black Atlantans who built and shaped the city from its origins as a railroad crossing to its arrival as a global city.
Visitors will discover how an investigation of Oakland’s now-unmarked graves shines a light on 19th century African American burial practices, how Oakland’s physical landscape was wrought by the class and racial issues of the day, and how the photography of Victorian-era luminary Thomas Askew (an Oakland resident) unveils a rich tableau of middle and upper-class African American life in Atlanta.
Get Illumine Tickets here.
Illumine 2022 Dates
Illumine 2022 takes place on the following evenings. Each evening of Illumine 2022 has a limited number of tickets to ensure the best experience for each visitor. Buy your tickets in advance to guarantee that you can experience Illumine 2022.
- Thursday, April 21
- Friday, April 22
- Saturday, April 23
- Sunday, April 24
- Thursday, April 28
- Friday, April 29
- Saturday, April 30
- Sunday, May 1
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now:
- Adults: $20 advance / $25 at the gate*
- Students, Children, Seniors (65+): $15 / $20 at the gate*
- Children 3 and Under: Free
*Plus taxes and fees
Questions? Email Mary Fernandez at mfernandez@oaklandcemetery.com.
Past light installations –
It's well worth the price of admission and all ages can enjoy it. Oakland hosts special events throughout the year and all are pretty wonderful. We hope you'll attend and support the cemetery too.
