Mount Auburn Cemetery

Summer SOLSTICE: Midsummer's Spell: A Community Healing Ritual with Herbs
2025-06-21 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The healing properties of tea have been widely known for centuries. Tea has been known to calm anxiety, reduce stress, help with sleep, improve circulation, and boost your immune system. Join us for a healing tea ritual that celebrates this moment in time as we come together as a community to set intentions and connect with the wisdom of our herbal allies.
We will sip on some plants, connect with one another, and ground ourselves in the lush landscape around us. If you feel called, bring a small offering for the altar to honor the season and our time together.
The workshop, led by Victoria (Vicki) Sargsyan, includes a coupon and samples from our event partner, Cambridge Naturals.
Location: Hazel Dell
Capacity: 24 people
REGISTER HERE>>
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.
…
Refund Policy:
Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.
If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.
*This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences.

Summer SOLSTICE: Make Your Own Flower Crown
2025-06-21 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-06-21 13:30 - 15:00 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Flower Crowns have been a beloved accessory across time and cultures. Join us in this workshop to learn a little about their history and make your own! We will have all the materials needed to create your perfect Summer SOLSTICE adornment.
No experience necessary. All ages welcome.
Workshop in Story Chapel.
Capacity: 20 people per session
REGISTER HERE>>
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.
…
Refund Policy:
Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.
If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.
*This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences

Summer SOLSTICE: Healing Power of Trees
2025-06-21 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-06-21 14:30 - 16:00 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Just the presence of trees growing around us is known to improve our mental well-being. Trees provide a connection to the natural world, which we are increasingly devoid of nowadays. Join herbalist and arborist Alex Klein on a walk around the cemetery, focusing on deepening this nature-connection in tangible and intimate ways. We’ll learn about trees’ kinship with humanity, how we can work with them as sources of medicine and other useful products, while still living side-by-side with them as neighbors. Because life is better with trees.
Check-in at Story Chapel.
Capacity: 25 people per walk
REGISTER HERE>>
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.
…
Refund Policy:
Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.
If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.
*This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences

Summer SOLSTICE: Awe Walk
2025-06-21 11:30 - 12:30, 2025-06-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Awe: a sense of wonder and reverence.
Join us for a stroll through Mount Auburn as we shift our focus towards all the beautiful things in the landscape. Practicing intentional focus, detailed observation, and childlike wonder, we will take time to appreciate nature in all forms and ask ourselves “What do you notice?”.
REGISTER HERE>>
Check-in at Story Chapel.
Capacity: 25 people per walk
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.
…
Refund Policy:
Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.
If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.
*This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences.

Summer SOLSTICE: Nature & Stillness: Yoga for Renewal
2025-06-21 13:00 - 14:00 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Step into the sunlit clearing of Hazel Dell and let the earth beneath you be your guide. In the quiet of Mount Auburn, you’re invited to slow down, breathe deeply and rediscover your natural rhythm through restful, gente sustained yoga postures.
Guided by Artemis Yoga teacher Liz Gawel, you’ll explore grounding poses designed to release tension and create a sense of spacious ease. As you hold these shapes, you’ll tune into the sounds and scents of nature, surrendering to the calm that rises from the earth.
This practice weaves in mindful breathwork and short guided flows, offering a balance of quiet introspection and subtle transformation. Liz’s welcoming presence and compassionate guidance is suitable for all levels, encouraging you to move at your own pace and honor what feels sustainable.
On this longest day of the year, you’ll be invited to practice with intention—whether to restore balance, revive your spirit, or simply rest in nature’s soothing embrace. Leave feeling grounded, renewed, and deeply nourished.
REGISTER HERE>>
Check in at top of Hazel Dell ramp.
Capacity: 50 people
What to bring:

A yoga mat (or blanket). Consider bringing a larger towel or ground cover blanket to put under your yoga mat as well.

Comfortable layers for shifting temperatures

An intention or reflection you’d like to hold for yourself

…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.
…
Refund Policy:
Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.
If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.
*This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences.

Summer SOLSTICE: Sound Meditation
2025-06-21 15:30 - 16:30 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
An outdoor Guided Meditation, Relaxation and Sound Experience.
Sound Healing practitioner Marlene Boyette welcomes all to be held by the earth, to find refuge, to rest, and to be led through a guided meditation intended to bring the mind and the body into unison, while also engaging the senses. Weaving together the sounds, vibrations, and energy of our natural surroundings with a variety of instruments (including deeply resonant crystal and metal singing bowls and chimes), participants will be bathed in layered sonic acoustics.
The experience will close with an opportunity for all to reflect and set intentions for the new season through dialogue and / or journaling.
What to bring: a yoga mat, blanket or towel, a journal, and writing utensil. Plastic folding chairs will be available if needed.
REGISTER HERE>>
Check-in for the class will be at the Central Ave entrance to Hazel Dell (i.e. Hazel Dell Path). The meditation class will also take place in Hazel Dell.
Event Capacity: 50
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.
…
Refund Policy:
Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.
If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.
*This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences.

Summer SOLSTICE Poetry Reading
2025-06-21 16:00 - 16:30 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Registration not required, but will help us guage interest.
The Poetry Reading will be outside Bigelow Chapel.
Join poet and former Artist-in-Residence Carolyn Oliver (2023-2024) and poet and current Artist-in-Residence Emily Duggan (2025-2026) for a special poetry reading of their original poems to celebrate the Summer SOLSTICE.
REGISTER HERE>>
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.

Laurel Circle Concert Series: Summer SOLSTICE with Stan Strickland
2025-06-21 17:30 - 19:30 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
The Friends of Mount Auburn is excited to welcome back Berklee College of Music professor Stan Strickland to usher in another summer at Mount Auburn! This year, Stan’s uplifting musical performance will feature dance accompaniment by former Mount Auburn Artist-in-Residence Lonnie Stanton. The event will begin with a reception in Asa Gray Garden, 5:30-6:30 p.m., with the performance beginning at 6:30 PM just across the way in Hazel Dell.
Stan Strickland is a vocalist, saxophonist, and flutist, and is the leader of Stan Strickland & Ascension, and the Stan Strickland Trio. He is a member of the Bob Moses-Stan Strickland Duo, the Laszlo Gardony-Stan Strickland Duo, Mama Tongue, and the Phil Argyris Quintet. He has performed with the Boston Pops, Take Six, Herbie Mann, Marlena Shaw, Pharaoh Sanders, Danilo Perez, and Yusef Lateef. His work appears on released recordings by Stan Strickland & Ascension, Bob Moses, Brute Force, and others.
REGISTER HERE>>
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
…
Refund Policy:
Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.
If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.
*This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences.

Nature Journaling Workshop
2025-06-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Come walk the paths of Mount Auburn Cemetery, setting up your own Nature Journal. Clare Walker Leslie will show you specific ways to document, in both simple word and image, how to record the seasonal nature you see along the way: June flowers, leaves and trees, birds, insects, a scampering chipmunk, and even a small landscape. The popularity of keeping Nature Journals has become widespread as a way of documenting one’s own, ongoing, place in nature.
Bring your own paper and portable drawing supplies. There will be equipment here as well. Clare will have several of her books. For more information: http://www.clarewalkerleslie.com
REGISTER HERE>>
Check-in at Story Chapel.
Capacity: 25 people
This event will take place outside. In the event of rain, we will move to Bigelow Chapel.
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.
…
Refund Policy:
Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.
If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.
*This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences.

Improv Poetry with Artist-in-Residence Emily Duggan
2025-06-29 12:00 - 15:00 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Head to Washington Tower on Sunday, June 29th from 12-3pm to take home a customized, improv poem by current Artist-in-Residence Emily Duggan!
No registration needed.
“Mount Auburn Cemetery: Memory Poems”
“Mount Auburn Cemetery: Memory Poems” invites visitors to explore and preserve their memories of Mount Auburn through poetry written for them on the spot. Throughout the year, Emily will be stationed in different locations at the Cemetery, where visitors will be invited to share with her their stories, feelings, connections to, and memories of Mount Auburn. Emily will then write customized/improvised poems based on these stories, and visitors will be gifted a copy of the original piece. To further preserve and share the poems, Emily will design a self-guided audio walking tour and map by which future visitors may listen to recordings of the poems as they move through the Cemetery. Emily will conclude her residency with a roaming poetry reading in the landscape.
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.

Discover Mount Auburn Introductory Walking Tour
2025-07-05 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-08-02 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-09-06 13:00 - 14:30 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Mount Auburn, designated a National Historic Landmark, is one of the country’s most significant designed landscapes. Here the arts of horticulture, architecture and sculpture combine with the beauty of nature to create a place of comfort and inspiration. This 1.5-mile walking tour will focus on stories of history, monuments, and the lives of those buried here. Registration required.
REGISTER HERE>>
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free access to all our public programs and discounts on special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Deep Listening Ritual
2025-07-18 18:00 - 19:00
Deep Listening encourages us to drop into presence with ourselves and with others. This practice (described by composer Pauline Oliveros as “listening in every possible way to everything possible to hear”) can become a way of being in a new kind of relation to ourselves and our environments. Through this multi-sensory practice of attunement to sound, stillness, breath and movement, Deep Listening can help foster profound experiences of emotional catharsis and processing.
In this Deep Listening experience, participants will be guided through an hour-long musical meditation led by 25-26 Artist-in-Residence Lia Pikus. In the quiet comfort of Mount Auburn’s Hazel Dell, Lia will use her cello and loop pedal^ to guide participants through a Deep Listening ritual that will help to foster our relationship with impermanence through attunement to the natural world.
REGISTER HERE>>
Participants are encouraged to bring a yoga mat, blanket, pillow, or anything else you can sit or lay on comfortably. There will also be chairs available.
Check-in at the top of Hazel Dell ramp (along Central Ave).
Location: Hazel Dell
Cap: 20 people
Rain Date: Thurs, Aug 3 at 6:00pm

*Please Note: Lia Pikus is not a certified Deep Listening practitioner.
^Loop pedals are used to record and “loop” musical sounds or patterns in order to add layers, textures, and backing tracks.
…
LIA PIKUS is one of Mount Auburn’s 25-26 Artists-in-Residence. She is a cellist, composer, and illustrator whose practice centers on art’s ability to cultivate experiences of presence and connection, both within community and in dialogue with the natural world. By drawing and reflecting on natural processes, Lia seeks to help audiences make emotional and sensory connections with their environments. As a Thomas J. Watson fellow (2023), she researched this connective power on a global scale, exploring the role of art in fostering community around the world. This research formed the foundation for her current explorations in live looping as a form of mediative ritual. It is also the central focus of her debut EP, Ritual, released in 2024. Lia was an Artist-in-Residence at Shenandoah National Park in 2024 and at Mothership NYC in 2023. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Religion, Ethics, and Politics at Harvard University. www.liapikus.com
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.
Refund Policy:
Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.
If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.
*This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences.

Improv Poetry with Artist-in-Residence Emily Duggan
2025-07-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Head to Auburn Lake on Sunday, July 27th from 10am-4pm to take home a customized, improv poem by current Artist-in-Residence Emily Duggan! (Emily will go on a 1-hour lunch break from 12-1pm.)
No registration needed.
“Mount Auburn Cemetery: Memory Poems”
“Mount Auburn Cemetery: Memory Poems” invites visitors to explore and preserve their memories of Mount Auburn through poetry written for them on the spot. Throughout the year, Emily will be stationed in different locations at the Cemetery, where visitors will be invited to share with her their stories, feelings, connections to, and memories of Mount Auburn. Emily will then write customized/improvised poems based on these stories, and visitors will be gifted a copy of the original piece. To further preserve and share the poems, Emily will design a self-guided audio walking tour and map by which future visitors may listen to recordings of the poems as they move through the Cemetery. Emily will conclude her residency with a roaming poetry reading in the landscape.
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.

Sunset Sound Meditations
2025-08-01 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-09-06 17:30 - 18:30 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
An outdoor Guided Meditation, Relaxation and Sound Experience.

Sound Healing practitioner Marlene Boyette welcomes all to be held by the earth, to find refuge, to rest, and to be led through a guided meditation intended to bring the mind and the body into unison, while also engaging the senses. Weaving together the sounds, vibrations, and energy of our natural surroundings with a variety of instruments (including deeply resonant crystal and metal singing bowls and chimes), participants will be bathed in layered sonic acoustics.

The experience will close with an opportunity for all to reflect and set intentions for the new season through dialogue and / or journaling.

What to bring: a yoga mat, blanket or towel, a journal, and writing utensil. Plastic folding chairs will be available if needed.

Check-in for the event will be at the top of the ramp entrance into Hazel Dell (off of Central Ave). The meditation will take place in Hazel Dell.

Rain location: Story Chapel.

Event Capacity: 40
REGISTER HERE >>

…

Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free access to all our public programs and discounts on special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Branches of Hope
2025-08-15 17:30 - 21:00 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Reflecting on the past; Healing for the future
REGISTER HERE>>
Mount Auburn Cemetery is excited to present a new cultural event: Branches of Hope, on Friday, August 15, 2025. This first-time event will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and serve as a space for peace, healing, hope, and togetherness.
Join us for a complimentary, public gathering from 5:30pm-6:30pm in the Asa Gray Garden featuring powerful performances by Eden Rayz, Lonnie Stanton, and Naoko Brown. A Gingko Tree that will be planted on our grounds will be presented, and Mount Auburn Cemetery President, Matthew Stephens, will provide remarks.
From 6:30pm-7:30pm, join us for a ticketed reception featuring light refreshments and wine/beer on Bigelow Lawn. An art exhibit of works by Cannon Hersey, a renowned photographer, fine artist, filmmaker and organizer of large-scale cultural efforts will be on display. He is the grandson of John Hersey, author of Hiroshima.
From 7:30pm-9:00pm, Cannon Hersey and Collaborator of Future Memory, Akira Fujimoto, will deliver a keynote presentation followed by a Q&A session. We will also be featuring special guest Koko Kondo, who was only eight months old when her city was destroyed by the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Please Note: This is a ticket for an in-person event and lecture. If you would like to attend only the lecture virtually, please register here.
—
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.
Refund Policy:
Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.
If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.
*This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences.

Branches of Hope (Virtual)
2025-08-15 19:30 - 21:00
Mount Auburn Cemetery is excited to present a new cultural event: Branches of Hope, on Friday, August 15, 2025. This first-time event will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and serve as a space for peace, healing, hope, and togetherness.
REGISTER HERE>>
From 7:30pm-9:00pm, Cannon Hersey and Collaborator of Future Memory, Akira Fujimoto, will deliver a keynote presentation followed by a Q&A session. We will also be featuring special guest Koko Kondo, who was only eight months old when her city was destroyed by the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Please Note: This is a ticket for a virtual lecture. If you would like an in-person ticket, please register here.
—
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
Mount Auburn is proud to participate in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.
Refund Policy:
Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.
If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.
*This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences.

Forest Bathing: A Mindful Nature Experience
2025-08-16 10:00 - 23:30 | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Join guest guide Stefanie Haug (LICSW) as we explore Mount Auburn Cemetery by slowing down, being attentive to nature with all our senses, and deepening our appreciation for this special slice of our Cambridge neighborhood. Our Forest Bathing experience will include simple warm-up movements, a natural history of the area, guided breathing and centering awareness, mindful walking with sensory activities, and finding our nature meditation/sit spot.

What to bring: comfortable clothing, walking shoes, small mat or towel to sit on, water.

Check-in for the experience will be outside Story Chapel.

Event capacity: 25 people
REGISTER HERE >>

…

Stefanie Haug, LICSW (she/her) guides people on journeys of self-awareness and relationship with nature as a local psychotherapist and certified Mindful Outdoor Guide (Kripalu). Her international career has spanned the corporate and nonprofit world with a focus on the wellbeing of humans and the more-than-human world. Stefanie is a lifelong nature lover and can often be found outdoors in all types of locations and weather, taking it all in with a sense of wonder, humor and calm.

…

Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free access to all our public programs and discounts on special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

The Language of Flowers: Floral Gravestone Symbolism Walking Tour
2025-08-22 18:00 - 19:30
Join Education & Digital Content Manager, Corinne Elicona on a journey to uncover the hidden meaning of flowers in Mount Auburn’s Landscape
REGISTER HERE>>
Summer is the perfect time of year to stop and smell the roses. Although, you might find that difficult with the ones carved in stone. Join Education & Digital Content Manager Corinne Elicona on this evening walking tour to learn all about the different flowers and plants found in Victorian gravestone symbolism.
We’ll explore the hidden meanings behind these botanic carvings and dive deep into the complex language that is Victorian sentimental symbolism.

Corinne Elicona has worked at Mount Auburn for eight years in many different roles including natural burial volunteer, administration assistant, and crematory operator. She is currently Mount Auburn’s Education & Digital Content Manager, working on creating educational content on Mount Auburn; its history, landscape, and legacy. She is passionate about fostering a positive discourse around death and promoting education around end-of-life choices and equity so that everyone can experience a good death.
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by theMassachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Cemetery Cinema
2025-08-26 20:00 - 23:00
“Death is for the living and not for the dead so much.” – Floyd McClure in Gates of Heaven
The Coolidge returns to Mount Auburn Cemetery to present our popular Cemetery Cinema outdoor film program!
REGISTER ON THE COOLIDGE WEBSITE HERE >>
Tickets $40 for double feature.
This incredibly unique screening experience will take place at sunset on Tuesday, August 26 at the historic and beautiful Mount Auburn Cemetery. (Rain date: Wednesday, August 27).
The evening begins with the area premiere of a new 4K restoration of The Sweet Hereafter, Atom Egoyan’s Oscar-nominated adaptation of Russell Banks’ novel about a small town reeling from a devastating tragedy. Our second feature is Errol Morris’ incredible debut documentary Gates of Heaven, which examines the devotions, emotions and at times, obsessions exhibited by animal lovers when a pet cemetery is moved to a new location. Both sincere and satirical, the film is an endlessly surprising and often funny look at how we grieve.
Mount Auburn Cemetery is located 580 Mount Auburn Street in Cambridge. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased on the Coolidge Corner Theatre website. Parking will be available at the cemetery, and light concessions will be sold. Chairs, blankets, and snacks are encouraged, but no alcohol, please. Mount Auburn Cemetery is an active burial place and a sacred site to mourners. Please keep this in mind as you set up your seating space and refrain from touching or leaning against any of the monuments or headstones.
The seating area is an uneven grassy field surrounded by monuments and gravestones. For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
About the Sweet Hereafter
A small mountain community in Canada is devastated when a school bus accident leaves more than a dozen of its children dead. A big-city lawyer (Ian Holm) arrives to help the survivors’ and victims’ families prepare a class-action suit, but his efforts only seem to push the townspeople further apart. At the same time, one teenage survivor of the accident (Sarah Polley) has to reckon with the loss of innocence brought about by a different kind of damage
About Gates of Heaven
Errol Morris burst out of the gate with this brilliant debut feature, about two pet cemeteries in Northern California and the people involved with them. Such a description, however, can hardly do justice to the captivating, funny, and enigmatic Gates of Heaven, a film that is about our relationships to our pets, each other, and ourselves. Both sincere and satirical, this is an endlessly surprising study of human nature.

Mount Auburn's Nighthawks
2025-08-27 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-28 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-29 18:00 - 20:00
The fall migration of the Common Nighthawk is a predictable and visible phenomenon. Over the years Bob Stymeist has observed hundreds of nighthawks from the Tower and now you can, too.
We’ll meet at Asa Gray Garden (Lawn Avenue Circle) and caravan to Washington Tower. Bring Binoculars and a flashlight. Registration required.
REGISTER HERE >>
Accessibility Note: This event takes place at the top of Washington Tower. There are 96 steps to the top and an additional 12 steps from Mountain Ave to the base of the tower. Handrails available.
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by theMassachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Meet our 2025-2026 Artists-in-Residence!
2025-09-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Join us online Wednesday, September 3rd at 6:00pm for a panel discussion with Mount Auburn’s 2025-2026 Artists-in-Residence, Emily Duggan (poet), Juls Gabs (digital painter), Lia Pikus (musician/composer), and wife and wife team Cara Giaimo (nature writer) & Lilia Kilburn (filmmaker).
In a conversation led by our Public Events Team, we will chat with the artists about their professional backgrounds, their connection to Mount Auburn, and their plans for their residency projects. The discussion will end with an audience Q&A.
REGISTER HERE>>
Free. Registration is required.
…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Champion Trees of Mount Auburn
2025-09-07 13:00 - 14:30
State and National foresters compile records of the largest trees of different species. Join Jim Gorman, arborist and staff, as we visit some of the Massachusetts Champions here at Mount Auburn.
Fun Fact: Did you know that Mount Auburn Cemetery is an accredited Level III Arboretum (one of only 46 in the world!)?
REGISTER HERE >>

Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free access to all our public programs and discounts on special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
