Kennesaw's "Life in the Cemetery" Walking Tour Returns October 23–25 |
Annual fundraiser traces America's story through the lives buried at Kennesaw City Cemetery, with guided tours ending after dark each night |
The Kennesaw Cemetery Preservation Foundation brings its annual "Life in the Cemetery" walking tour back to Kennesaw City Cemetery this year, with guided tours running Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25, just ahead of Halloween weekend. The City of Kennesaw Cemetery Preservation Commission co-sponsors the fundraiser.
This year's tour is themed around America's 250th anniversary, tracing the nation's story through the lives of people buried in the cemetery. Guides walk visitors through tales connected to the Civil War, Westward Expansion, the two World Wars, the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement, framing each chapter around its impact on Kennesaw specifically rather than history in the abstract.
Each tour runs about an hour, and the last tour of each day departs after dark. The route covers uneven ground, including dirt paths, grass hills, asphalt and gravel, with visitors stepping carefully around headstones and the small walls bordering some family plots. For that reason, organizers do not recommend the tour for visitors using wheelchairs, walkers or crutches, or anyone with mobility or balance challenges. Pets are not permitted inside the cemetery at any time.
Tickets are sold through Eventbrite rather than at the gate, with sales opening September 1. Neither the foundation's event page nor the Eventbrite listing shows a specific price or exact daily start times beyond the general "after dark" close, so residents should confirm both before heading over. Eventbrite's page notes that refunds are available up to 7 days before the event. |
 Illustrative image, not the Kennesaw cemetery. Photo by Jakob Andersson on Pexels |
Anyone unable to attend in person can find more information through the foundation's own site at kennesawcemetery.org, which has hosted a virtual version of the tour in past years.
Kennesaw City Cemetery is located at 3000 Cemetery Road, Kennesaw. View the location on a map. Because the event sits right at the edge of Halloween weekend, it tends to draw a mix of history buffs and visitors looking for a seasonal outing with a more reflective tone than typical fall festivities. Ticket sales support the foundation's ongoing work to maintain and document the historic grounds, which include markers dating back well over a century.
Given the uneven terrain and after-dark finish, bring comfortable, sturdy footwear and a flashlight or phone light for later sessions. Families with young children may want an earlier tour time where available, since the hour-long walk on uneven ground can be demanding for small kids after dark.
Residents interested in attending should confirm ticket prices, exact daily start times, and any last-minute schedule changes through the foundation's event listing or the Eventbrite page before the weekend. You can also contact the foundation directly at 470-546-2118 or CemeteryFoundation@gmail.com. |
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Good to know pets aren't allowed before making plans. Our dog usually comes along on walks, so he'll have to sit this one out.
kim_87Ours comes on every walk too. At least we know to leave her home this time.
Glad the pet policy was helpful for planning. He’ll have to enjoy a different walk that day!
Glad they're including the Great Depression in the tour. Those everyday stories tend to get skipped when people talk about big anniversaries.
Ben CarterAgreed. I'd love to hear what those years were like for families here in Kennesaw.
We agree, everyday experiences are an important part of that history. It’s good to see the Great Depression included alongside the tour’s other chapters.
I hope they post the ticket price soon. I'd like to take my kids, but need to know what it costs before I commit.
We understand needing a price before making family plans. Neither listing showed one when we checked, so the foundation’s event page and Eventbrite are the places to watch for an update.
Tasha W.Same, especially if there's a separate price for kids. Hopefully they add that before tickets go on sale.
A cemetery tour right before Halloween sounds fun, especially the last one after dark. I'll be bringing a flashlight for those gravel paths.
The after-dark departure does sound memorable! A flashlight sounds sensible for the uneven paths. Just take care around the headstones and plot walls.
Jess MillerA flashlight sounds smart. Those paths are tricky enough in daylight when you're watching for the little plot walls.
Went a couple years ago and learned more about Kennesaw than I expected. Curious to hear how they cover Westward Expansion this time.
Caleb R.That's the part I'm curious about too. I wonder if they'll focus on families who left Kennesaw or people who settled here.
Thanks for sharing your experience! We’re curious, too, to hear how this year’s guides connect Westward Expansion to Kennesaw.
My dad would love the Civil War stories, but those grass hills would be tough for him. I appreciate the warning about the route.
Nina PatelMy mom would have the same trouble with the hills. I wish there were a shorter route for folks who can't manage them.
We’re glad the route details helped. The uneven ground and grass hills are worth considering before booking with your dad.
The after dark tour sounds interesting, but I wish they had posted the exact start times. Hard to make plans without knowing when to show up.
That’s understandable. Exact daily start times weren’t listed when we checked, so we’d confirm them on the foundation’s event page or Eventbrite before heading over.
Dave ThompsonSame here. Even a rough schedule for each day would help us figure out which tour to book.
I like that the tour connects the World Wars to people buried right here in Kennesaw. Makes those years feel a lot closer to home.
That local connection is what makes the tour’s approach so compelling. The guides frame each chapter through people buried in the cemetery.
Maria G.Seeing a name on a headstone really does make the history feel less distant.