Cemetery Ghost Tours This Halloween: Etiquette and Tips

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Old cemeteries are some of the most beautiful and peaceful places to visit in the fall. They are also home to some of America’s best-loved ghost stories. Many cemeteries now offer history walks and lantern tours in October, and they are a wonderful way to celebrate Halloween. They are also working burial grounds, where families still come to grieve. Here is how to enjoy a cemetery ghost tour and be a respectful visitor.

Find the right tour

Guided tours are best

A guided tour is the easiest way to see a cemetery after hours, hear the stories and learn the history. Many historic cemeteries, historical societies and local tour companies run walks in October. Famous cemeteries such as Bonaventure in Savannah and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans draw visitors all year, and some sections or tombs can only be seen with an approved guide.

Check the rules

Each cemetery sets its own hours and rules. Some close at dusk, some require a guide and some are on private or church land. A few, like Stull Cemetery in Kansas, have become so famous that the owners have had to restrict access. Always check before you go.

Book early

Lantern tours and Halloween walks fill up fast. Book as soon as dates are posted, and read the tour description so you know how far you will walk and whether it runs in the rain.

Graveside etiquette

• Stay on paths. Walk between rows, not over graves.
• Don’t touch. Never lean on, sit on or climb headstones or monuments. Old stone is fragile and can break or fall.
• No rubbings without permission. Gravestone rubbing can damage old stones, and many cemeteries ban it.
• Leave everything as it is. Don’t move flowers, coins or keepsakes left by families.
• Keep your voice down, especially near anyone visiting a grave.
• Give way to funerals. If a service is under way, keep your distance and wait.
• Take nothing but photos, and leave nothing but footprints.

Taking photos

Most cemeteries allow photos for personal use, but some don’t, and some ask that you not photograph recent graves or mourners. Ask your guide. On evening tours, check whether flash is allowed. If you’re hoping to catch something unexplained in a picture, keep a note of the time and place so you can compare later.

Ghost stories and real people

Every legend in a cemetery is tied to real people who are buried there, and often to families who still live nearby. Tell the stories with care. Some of the most famous tales, like the legends of Bachelor’s Grove near Chicago, have attracted vandals over the years. Good ghost hunters leave a place better than they found it.

What to bring

• Comfortable shoes for uneven ground and wet grass.
• A small flashlight, used low and pointed down.
• Layers. Cemeteries can be cold and damp at dusk.
• A notebook for names, dates and stories you want to look up later.
• A good read for afterward. Cemetery Stories is a fascinating look at the history of graveyards and those who care for them.

Bring the mood home

If you can’t join a tour this year, you can still celebrate the season. Hang a moody print like The Haunted Cemetery canvas for your Halloween party, and let your car tell everyone where your heart is with an I Brake For Spooky Cemeteries magnet. Then read a few cemetery legends from this site aloud by candlelight.

FAQ

Is it disrespectful to go on a cemetery ghost tour?

Not when it is done well. Good tours focus on history and the people buried there, follow the cemetery’s rules and treat graves with care.

Can I visit a cemetery at night?

Only on an approved tour or when the cemetery is open. Many close at dusk, and trespassing rules apply.

Which cemeteries on this site can I visit?

Many are open to visitors in daytime. Check each one’s current hours before you go, and see our posts on Hollywood Forever and El Campo Santo in San Diego for ideas.

What should I wear?

Comfortable, closed shoes and layers. Dress respectfully; you may meet families visiting graves.