Exceptional southern storytelling comes to life next month at Historic Riverside Cemetery.  Riverside Cemetery and Conservancy’s Spring Spirit Stroll offers guests a guided walking tour with actors representing spirits of some of Macon’s most fascinating characters. Stroll through the beautiful 127-year old cemetery grounds in Historic Riverside Cemetery on the only historical tour in central Georgia that offers visitors a glimpse into the past, complete with tour guides and costumed actors portraying captivating stories that give a voice to Macon’s earliest settlers, villains and colorful characters.

Over the years, volunteers have dug for interesting stories of those interred in the cemetery, scouring city archives and newspaper articles. The stories and scripts are often changing as friends and family descendants offer more insight into these people’s lives.  This year, Riverside Cemetery is excited to announce that Mark Ballard will join the tour and amuse tour guests with the entertaining tale of his late friend A. Emmett Barnes, III.

“There are over 17,000 people interred at the cemetery and everyone has a story,” said Historic Riverside Cemetery & Conservancy spokesperson Mindy Hart.  “It is a unique way to find Macon’s layers of history. It’s not just the wealthy people interred here, it’s the poor people, the important and not important people, and if you take them as a whole, you have a mosaic that is Macon.  It is a unique event that offers a reflection on how Macon has grown.  In a way, this tour helps keep the story of Macon alive, and having these performances, reminds us as a city who we were and where we can go.”

The Spring Spirit Stroll tour is appropriate for all ages and will leave guests and visitors with a greater appreciation of the community, as well as some interesting trivia and history you can share with your friends.  This year, Spring Spirit Stroll tour dates run from March 22nd - March 24th and March 28th - March 31st. Tours begin at 6:00 PM, 6:15 PM, 6:30 PM and 6:45PM and depart from the Gatehouse every 15 minutes. The cemetery asks that guests arrive 15 minutes prior to their tour time. For guests with limited mobility, a golf cart tour is available at 6:00pm only.  A museum shop will have T-shirts, relevant books, gifts and souvenirs. All proceeds benefit the Conservancy.

Ticket prices are $10.00 general admission. Children 5 and under are free.  Group Rates are available. 

Tickets for the Spring Spirit Stroll can be purchased online at https://www.bigtickets.com/events/riversidecemetery/.