Community Events

Fall/winter hours begin on October 1. Gates will open from 8:30 – 4:00 daily. Summer hours will resume in May! 

Get to know Elmwood's history, art, nature and landscape from the comfort of a charming vintage trolley! We've partnered with Detroit's own Grand Trolley to bring you a delightful ride through our beautiful and historic 86-acre cemetery led by an expert guide. Tours will last about two hours. There will be some hop-off stops with a little bit of walking, but all stops are optional; just cruise and enjoy the scenery if you prefer! Thanks to the generous support of the Mary Thompson Foundation, tickets are just $10. 

Now offering two dates in October: 

• Wednesday, October 14 at 10 a.m. — Tickets here 
• Sunday, October 18 at 10 a.m. — Tickets here

See you on board! These tours are sold out! Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a spot on the waiting list and to get a heads-up when we open up sales for our next trolley tour.

The Outlier Collective and the Historic Elmwood Foundation are thrilled to bring back Girls in the Graveyard! Enjoy a stroll through Elmwood's beautiful grounds while we share the lives of some of the exceptional women who are buried here. Then enjoy sweets from For the Love of Sugar and browse hand-picked books for sale from Source Booksellers. October 16 at 4 p.m. and October 17 at 2 p.m. — more information and tickets available here. 

Join us as we unlock the secrets and open the doors of Elmwood's mausoleums on October 23 and October 24. 

By popular demand, we are offering three tour times this year:

• Friday, October 23, 5 p.m. 
• Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.   

Elmwood's family vaults tell a fascinating story of changing burial trends and architectural tastes. This intimate tour will introduce you to the history of private mausoleums, the families who chose them, the craftsmen who built them and why Elmwood's mausoleums have been the subject of some controversy in the cemetery's history. And yes, we'll be able to go inside a few of them! Tickets are $20 and support the work of the Historic Elmwood Foundation. Tickets available here. 

Join us for a Full Moon Death Café at Elmwood, Monday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m., led by Kristy Sue Bishop. Bring a blanket and your emotional support beverage (nonalcoholic please!) as we gather on the hillside for an evening of thoughtful conversation in one of the Detroit’s most peaceful places.

A Death Café is a welcoming, agenda-free gathering where people come together to talk openly about death, grief, mortality, and what it means to live well. There are no lectures, no therapy, and no expectation to share, just respectful conversation, curiosity, and connection. Whether you're simply curious, have experienced loss, are planning ahead, or wish our culture talked more openly about death, you're welcome here. Come as you are, listen if you'd rather not speak, and join us for meaningful conversation as twilight settles over the cemetery. To join us, simply sign up here. 

All are welcome to join a service in observance of All Souls' Day on Monday, November 2 at 10 a.m. Reverend Steven J. Kelly, pastor of St. John’s Episcopal Church Detroit, leads a mass in honor of those who have passed away. The service is held at Elmwood's chapel and is free to attend with no registration necessary. 

As the holiday season approaches, grief can feel especially heavy. The Harvest of Healing Retreat offers a sacred space to pause, reflect, and receive support. Join professional counselors Laverne Santangelo and Carmen Rembert at Calvary Baptist Church on Saturday, Nov. 7, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., for a half-day retreat to help you gather peace, honor grief, and find strength for the season ahead. This retreat is for anyone navigating loss — whether recent or long ago — who is seeking for a safe, supportive, and healing environment. Elmwood Cemetery is proud to sponsor this community event. Get more information or register here.

All are welcome to gather at Elmwood Cemetery for our 42nd annual Veterans Day Observance in partnership with the Detroit Historic Civil War Society on November 11 at 11 a.m. The event honors all Veterans, with special recognition for members of the 102nd U.S. Colored Troops, the first Black regiment to fight for the Union from Michigan.  

The program will be held on our Civil War lot in Section S and includes a flyover by the Tuskegee Airmen Flying TG-7A, a flag-raising by Junior ROTC cadets from the Detroit Public Schools Community District, and a performance by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School marching band. Living history groups and Civil War re-enactors from across the state will be in attendance. Free and open to the public. For more details or media inquiries, contact Amy Elliott Bragg: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.