Community Events

Join the Detroit Bird Alliance and the Historic Elmwood Foundation for a birding walk at the cemetery. We will walk the grounds to identify the species we see throughout the cemetery and discuss bird migration, habitats and highlights of Elmwood's history. Bring your own binoculars or Detroit Bird Alliance will have some to borrow. We will gather in the chapel following the walk for refreshments.

Register with the Detroit Bird Alliance for the bird walk on April 5 at 8:30 a.m. or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details.

Our April walking tour will celebrate spring with a tour of memorial art and symbolism at Elmwood (especially the language of plants and flowers in memorial art — it's spring, after all!) We'll do a little scavenger hunt, too. Sunday, April 13, at 10 a.m. Learn more and register here.

Join us for a casual mid-week walk at our historic cemetery and Arboretum! This easy stroll around the grounds will last about an hour. See what's in bloom (hopefully our magnificent Loebner magnolia!), get some steps in, and meet others who love the peace and beauty of Elmwood. Free and low-key. Wednesday, April 16 at 1 p.m. While most of our walks are rain or shine, we'll reschedule this one if it's looking crummy. Register here or just drop by. 

Join us for a tour of our gorgeous and historic certified Arboretum! You'll learn more about the history of Elmwood, its landscape (Frederick Law Olmsted was here), and the 90+ species of trees in our serene, green oasis in the heart of the city. We're hopeful you'll see some trees in peak bloom.

Certified master arborist Todd Fleishans co-leads this tour to share information about Elmwood's notable trees and teach some tree care and tree ID basics. Sunday, April 27 at 10 a.m. Learn more and register here.

Extended hours for grounds access beginning May 1 are through September 15, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Detroit, once known by the code name “Midnight,” was one of the last and most important stops on the Underground Railroad and home to a robust Black-led community of anti-slavery activists, many of whom are buried at Elmwood. Join Jamon Jordan, Official Historian of the City of Detroit, for a tour exploring the history and context of the Underground Railroad in Detroit and Michigan. Elmwood is proud to be a significant site on the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. May 10 at 11 a.m. The tour is free, but registration is required; sign up here.