It'll be a graveyard smash.
Elmwood Cemetery will host its annual "Spirits with the Spirits" charity event for adults who are 21 and up on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
Adults aged 21 and up who are looking for spooky thrills are invited to come to Elmwood Cemetery at 824 S. Dudley St. on November 1 at 7 p.m. to take part in Spirits with the Spirits Saturday.
The dress code is black and white casual, and costumes are welcomed. The entry fee is $60 for one and $100 for couples, with all proceeds and donations to go to St. Jude. The event will go on rain or shine, and tickets are non-refundable.
There will be a number of activities to entertain partygoers, including palm readers, wagon rides through the 80-acres of cemetery grounds and a silent auction.
The Boiling Point, Just For Lunch, Fork It Over Catering, Maximillion Catering and The University Club will provide food, while Roaring Tiger and Ghost River Brewing will be providing the titular spirits.
The cemetery also offers opportunities to volunteer and possibly become an ambassador for the historical gravesite. Elmwood University classes give attendees the chance to learn about Memphis history. People who attend the classes will have an opportunity to delivery history-based tours to thousands of visitors.
Kelly Williams, the executive coordinator of the Elmwood Cemetery, laid out some of the ground rules for potential volunteers.
“Most of people who attend these tours are school children, so our volunteers must have midweek days available,” Williams said.
Those who wish to become an ambassador should be willing to stand and walk for two hours at a time, have midweek mornings available for tours and be able to speak clearly using a microphone.
Those wanting to be more “hands on” can attend the cemetery’s Stone College, where people are trained in how to handle the dead.
Williams explained what goes on in the classes taught by the Stone College.
“We hold seminars and workshops where people learn how to repair broken bones, style hair, and management of caskets,” Williams said.
The Stone College class requires that students wear comfortable clothing that they do not mind getting dirty, be able to lift 40 pounds of dirt and clay for more than 30 minutes at a time, be willing to tolerate changing weather conditions and be able to follow instructions carefully. Tuition for Stone College and Elmwood University classes are $25 each. Those interested can call Elmwood Cemetery at (901)774-3212 or visit their website at http://www.elmwoodcemetery.org/ for more info.
