Long Beach Historical Society: Cemetery Tour
This Halloween season, step beyond the headstones and into Long Beach’s past at the Historical Society of Long Beach’s Cemetery Tour, Oct. 31, 9 AM to 3 PM.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, this beloved community event brings history to life through costumed performances, fascinating exhibits, cultural installations and stories of the people who helped shape the city. Wander Municipal and Sunnyside cemeteries, meet characters from Long Beach’s past brought back to life, and discover the city’s remarkable stories hidden in plain sight.
HISTORY COMES ALIVE
The Long Beach Historical Society’s Historical Cemetery Tour, takes place Oct. 31–yep, Halloween–from 9 AM to 3 PM at Municipal (1151 Willow St) and Sunnyside (1095 Willow St) cemeteries. Actors from the Long Beach Playhouse, dressed in period costumes, portray people connected to the city’s history at seven different gravesites; from civic pioneers to everyday residents. Each 10-minute vignette is repeated throughout the event, so you can explore at your own pace while catching all the stories. And because the actors stay in character, you can ask questions and get answers straight from the past.
A BIGGER PICTURE
The graveside performances are just the beginning. Throughout the grounds there are displays, pictorials and timelines exploring the many communities and people who shaped Long Beach, including the city’s political movers and shakers and figures from LGBTQ+ history. You can also connect with local historians, browse regional history books and talk with representatives from Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos. For genealogy enthusiasts, Duke K. Fuller will be on hand to help visitors explore the possibility that long-lost relatives may be resting nearby.
NOT YOUR TYPICAL CEMETERY TOUR
There are no jump scares or haunted house theatrics. Instead, the Historical Cemetery Tour uses Long Beach’s oldest marked gravesites to tell real stories about the people who helped shape the city. You’ll hear about family businesses, immigration, injustice and community life, all of it serving to add more context and texture to Long Beach history. It’s a Halloween-season tradition that’s more enlightening than frightening and suitable for curious visitors of all ages.
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES
The tour offers a particularly rich look at the diverse communities that have helped shape Long Beach. Learn about the local Japanese American experience after World War II, explore Cambodian Memorial Flags, and visit a colorful Día de los Muertos installation honoring ancestors. Together, the exhibits, performances and community presentations turn the cemetery into a living history lesson.
MAKE IT AN AFTERNOON
The Cemetery Tour invites visitors to bring their own refreshments and enjoy them in a shady rest area under cover of trees. Reusable water bottles are welcome, with free refills provided by Long Beach Utilities. A merchandise booth offers books, postcards and reprints of historic photographs, making it easy to take a little Long Beach history home. Arrive before noon to experience the full lineup of activities, displays and performances
TAKE YOUR TIME, PLAN AHEAD
With so much to see, there’s no need to rush. Performances are repeated throughout the event, giving visitors time to wander between Municipal and Sunnyside cemeteries, explore historical displays and catch the stories they’re most interested in. More than 1,500 people are expected for this beloved annual tradition, so planning ahead is essential. On-site parking is extremely limited, particularly for larger vehicles. Plan to arrive by carpool, bike, rideshare or public transportation—and arrive early for the fullest experience.
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