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On today’s edition of Around Atlanta with the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio Show, Pam Henmen, marketing and public relations manager with the Historic Oakland Cemetery and Historic Oakland Foundation, joined hosts Todd Schnick and Carol Morgan to speak about all the fun events coming up this fall to be a part of at the Historic Oakland Cemetery.
Historic Oakland Cemetery is Atlanta’s oldest municipal burial ground and was established in 1850. Just about a mile from downtown Atlanta, it comprises 48 acres within the green space of Grant Park and is home to burial sites of Civil War generals, Atlanta mayors, Georgia governors, civil rights leaders and more. There are a total of 70,000 people buried at the Historic Oakland Cemetery. The Historic Oakland Foundation partners with the city of Atlanta to work towards its mission to preserve, restore, enhance and share the Historic Oakland Cemetery with the public. Tours and events are held here year round for people locally and people out of state and country to join in.
One of their most popular events that is coming up in October is the Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tour. On the weekends of October 21 and 27, the public gets the chance to explore and walk the cemetery at night. Costumed actors and volunteers “bring to life” four to seven residents of the cemetery, and their stories are told. Each year, the stories change. In previous years, the stories of Bobby Jones, Margaret Mitchell and lesser known residents such as William Jasper Franklin, who was known as the Goat Man of Atlanta, have been told. People from around the country and world come to see these tours. Although they have already sold out for this year, there is potentially a small window of opportunity to get a ticket by watching the Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tour Facebook page where people who can’t make it and want to sell their tickets do so.
Another event coming soon is the Sunday in the Park Victorian Festival held on October 2. It is a celebration of all things Victorian including the Historic Oakland Cemetery. There will be music, food, living history demonstrations, face painting and crafts for kids, guided walking tours and horse and carriage rides. You can also get the chance to go inside and see some of the mausoleums found there. It will be held from noon to 6 p.m. and costs $7 for adults, $3 for kids age four to twelve and FREE for kids three and under. All proceeds from this event go towards the Historic Oakland Cemetery.
The two last events going on in October are the Run Like Hell 5K and Run Like Heck 1K on October 15. The Run Like Hell 5K, a Peachtree Road Race Qualifier, is the largest cemetery run in the country, and people are encouraged to get in costume for the run and see what all people dress as. This year, the Historic Oakland Cemetery has added group pricing, and people can participate in group costumes such as a six pack of Bud Light. The run goes through the cemetery and into the Grant Park neighborhood. It is a dog friendly race, and there will be a costume contest for dogs. Come out for this fun-filled event with your family and friends.
Start planning now for all of these Historic Oakland Cemetery events you are sure to love. For more information about the cemetery, foundation and events, visit www.oaklandcemetery.com or any of their social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Please download and subscribe to all of the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcasts on iTunes. If you like this week’s show, be sure to rate it. The “Around Atlanta” segment is designed to showcase the best of metro Atlanta – the communities, attractions and special events that make this city great. To submit your event, community or attraction to the Around Atlanta edition of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, contact 770-383-3360.