The Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween tours are an annual tradition in Atlanta. And while they take place in October, they sell out early nearly every year.
The gates of Oakland usually close at dusk — so the Halloween tours are one of the few times you can experience the cemetery grounds after dark (Illumine is the other twilight event). These are storytelling events — you’ll follow a costumed guide through beautifully lit Victorian gardens as you listen to tales of some of the cemetery’s most noted residents.
Capturing the Spirit of Oakland tours are “designed to enlighten, not frighten.” They are family-friendly, but not recommended for children under 8.
This is a sell-out event, and tickets are gone within days of their release each summer.
NOTE: If you deferred your ticket from the canceled 2020 event, you’ll get priority in picking a tour date this year. Registration will open up to you on June 15th — watch for an email from Oakland about how to proceed.
In 2021, the tour tickets go on sale to the general public on July 15th.
Members of the Historic Oakland Foundation can purchase tickets starting July 1st.
If you’re determined to get tickets to this popular event this year, you may want to purchase a membership so you can take advantage of the presale.
Limit of six tickets per order.
More info here
2021 Oakland Cemetery Halloween Tour Dates
The tours are taking place over three weekends this year.
- Thursday, October 14 to Sunday, October 17
- Thursday, October 21 to Sunday, October 24
- Thursday, October 28 to Sunday, October 31
- VIP Night: October 25th
Last year, tours were about 75 minutes in length and departed every 15 minutes. The route was approximately one mile, and the entire experience took about two hours from arrival time.
Capturing the Spirit of Oakland is a rain or shine event. No refunds will be issued.
2021 tour prices
Tickets are considerably higher this year.
According the website, they are:
- Adult: $50
- Children 4-12: $28
- Children under 4: Free
- VIP Night (October 25): $150
In the past, tickets were about $30 for adults and $20 for kids, and there was a tiered price list, with peak times on Fridays and Saturdays being more expensive. When ticket sales open up on the 15th and we can see the price structure, we will update this.
Oakland Cemetery is home to over 1400 trees, some of them nearly 200 years old. Many reflect Victorian symbolism, including those with a “weeping” form or tall columnar shape that points toward heaven.
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