An Unexpected Way to Support Oakland Cemetery
What does Oakland Cemetery mean to you? A peaceful place for a quiet walk and a break from your busy day? A treasure trove of stories that keep history alive? A lush garden that sparks your love of diverse plant life? Or a fascinating, living archive of your city’s past and the people who shaped it?
However you connect with Oakland, if its grounds are meaningful to you, you probably care about keeping its gardens and monuments in the best condition possible for generations to come. As Oakland is not a perpetual care cemetery, Historic Oakland Foundation and the City of Atlanta partner together to maintain its grounds. Forty-eight acres are a lot to restore and care for. Time, weather, and decades of neglect before the Foundation was created have left lasting damage to many monuments, headstones, and pathways. So far, 20 of the 48 acres have been restored, but there’s still plenty of work ahead.
You can help preserve, restore, and share Oakland Cemetery by becoming a member, donating, or volunteering. But there’s another easy—and fun—way to support this mission that might already fit into your fall plans: join us for the 47th annual Sunday in the Park festival!
Inspired by the Victorian tradition of spending a leisurely day in the park and by the idea of cemeteries as community gathering places, Sunday in the Park is a celebration of all things Oakland—from its lush gardens to its vibrant history. Proceeds from ticket sales go directly toward the Historic Oakland Foundation’s restoration and preservation efforts, including our current focus: restoring Oakland’s oldest section, the Original Six Acres.
Tickets start at just $15 for adults and $5 for children and will grant you access to a full day of live music (sixteen bands!), free tours, living-history performances, a Victorian Costume Contest, an artist market, and a lineup of food trucks. Live music fans will love our mausoleum “porchfest,” featuring twelve local bands performing in front of Oakland’s iconic eternal homes in addition to a mainstage with Arkose, Billy Allen and the Pollies, Electric Blue Yonder, BB Palmer, and Boom! Trio ft. LAVAHI. There’s something for every age, including all-day kids’ programming with scavenger hunts, memory-bracelet weaving, and DIY instruments so little ones can jam along to the music. “People often ask how they can support Oakland Cemetery, and one of the best ways to do that is actually by attending our ticketed events,” says Sandy White, Oakland’s Director of Adult Programs & Volunteers. “Not only are you supporting our mission, you’re also having a great time and filling the cemetery with life!”
