Community Events

Elmwood Cemetery has been integrated since its founding in 1846, making it one of the oldest integrated cemeteries in the Midwest and a rich site of Detroit’s Black heritage. Join Jamon Jordan, Official Historian for the City of Detroit, for a tour of that heritage on October 25 at 11 a.m. From abolitionists William Lambert and George DeBaptiste to Mayor Coleman Young and Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg, we’ll visit notable Black leaders, luminaries, activists, entrepreneurs, artists and more who made Detroit the city it is today. This tour is free, but please sign up here.

Join us as we unlock the secrets and open the doors of Elmwood's mausoleums on October 25-26. By popular demand, we are offering three tour times this year: at 2 p.m. on October 25 and at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on October 26. 

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. 

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. 1, for a day-long 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 longs for a safe, supportive, and healing environment. Elmwood Cemetery is proud to sponsor this community event. More information and registration here.

All are welcome to join a service in observance of All Souls' Day on Monday, November 3. 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 begins at 10 a.m. at Elmwood's chapel and is free to attend with no registration necessary. 

All are welcome to gather at Elmwood Cemetery for our 41st annual Veterans Day Observance in partnership with the Detroit Historic Civil War Society on November 11 at 11 a.m. (Please note the time change from last year!) 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.