Cooler weather is on the way, bringing lively activities to the city’s most noted resting place for the dead.
Oakland Cemetery, the historic burial ground a mile from downtown, presents two of its popular gatherings during the month of October.
The annual “Sunday in the Park” Victorian street festival, held this year on Oct. 4, invites costumed revelers to re-enact Oakland’s 19th century roots, and also encourages modern steam-punkers to get in on the action.
There will be living history demonstrations, guided walking tours, a Victorian costume contest, live music and dance performances, a children’s area, food trucks and beer tents.
On that day visitors are also invited into some of Oakland’s grand mausoleums. It’s the only day of the year on which the mausoleums are open to the public.
Tickets to the event, held noon to 6 p.m., are $7; children under 3 years old are free.
Also at Oakland in October are Halloween tours spanning two weekends: Oct. 23-25 and Oct. 29-31. Visitors experience the cemetery after dark on guided walking tours, which bring a few residents "to life" through re-enactments. Tickets range from $13 to $25 (plus tax and fees), and are available in advance only at TicketAlternative.com. Always a sell-out event, "Capturing the Spirit of Oakland" is designed to enlighten, not frighten, and draws visitors from across the country.
Information: www.oaklandcemetery.com/
