Life in the Cemetery

The ‘Life in the Cemetery’ Tour is an annual guided historical walking tour. This fundraising event is sponsored by the Kennesaw Cemetery Preservation Foundation, a 501(c)3, dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the city’s cemetery. The event is co-sponsored by the City of Kennesaw Cemetery Preservation Commission. This year’s tour will be held the weekend before Halloween, Thursday, October 24 thru Sunday, October 27. Tickets will go on sale September 1, 2024 at kennesawcemetery.org.

The goal of this fund raising event is to introduce the city’s beautiful historic cemetery to the public and highlight the cemetery’s residents whose unique stories are the social fabric of Kennesaw. Some date back to the Civil War when the area was known as Big Shanty. During this year’s event, attendees will be introduced to cemetery residents who have a connection to the military or are otherwise involved in the defense of our nation. Each resident, portrayed by a local artist, will come to life as they tell their story. You will meet a veteran wounded during the Civil War and the most decorated veteran in Cobb County among the residents visited during the tour.

This is one hour walking tours, of which the last tour each day is after dark, covers a variety of uneven surfaces. These include dirt, grass and grass hills, asphalt and/or gravel roads. Attendees will be required to navigate around headstones and coping(small walls) surrounding some family plots. This tour is not recommended for those with wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, mobility or balance challenges.(An online tour is available at kennesawcemetery.org.) Pets are not allowed in the cemetery at any time.