Historic Oakland Foundation - Sunday in the Park

Our annual Sunday in the Park event, now in its 40th year, hails from this tradition. On September 30, Oakland Cemetery visitors can enjoy living history theatre performances, tours, an artists’ market, food trucks, live music, storytelling, crafts for kids, and a historical costume contest as they explore how the Cemetery, surrounding neighborhoods, and the city have changed over time and celebrate the local communities that make Oakland what it is today.

Living History – Rich or poor, black or white, famous or infamous, every resident’s story here at Oakland Cemetery shines a light on the beautiful mosaic that is Atlanta’s rich history. Actors relate the stories of Atlantans like Selena Sloan Butler, a Georgia Woman of Achievement who, in 1911, started the nation’s first black PTA and immeasurably improved the lives of African American children in Atlanta.

African American Grounds Stage

• Living History | Oakland resident Selena Sloan Butler – 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00
• African American folktales as told by storyteller LaDoris Bias Davis – 1:15 & 3:15
• Artists from The Atlanta Opera perform spirituals and works by African American composers – 2:30 & 4:30

Coker Mausoleum Stage

• Living History | Friend of Bobby Jones Alexa Stirling – 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00
• Music by the Ghosts Project – 3:30 & 5:00

Out in the Rain Foundation

• Living History | Jonathan Norcross and Leonard Simpson – 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00

The Hitching Post

• Living History | Franklin Garrett – 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, & 5:30

The Gas Lamp

• Living History | Margaret Mitchell and Maybelle Stephens Mitchell – 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30

Read more: Telling Atlanta’s Histories: New at Sunday in the Park 2018

Authors and Book Talks – A talented group of authors will talk about their books throughout the afternoon at the Visitor Center. Ron Smith will speak about Atlanta Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Hub of the South, Dr. Wendy Venet from Georgia State University will discuss  A Changing Wind: Commerce and Conflict in Civil War Atlanta, Dr. DL Henderson will talk about her new book, South View: An African American City of the Dead, Ren and Helen Davis will speak about their book Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery, and Jason Flowers will present his children’s book, Hello! Fat Crow!

• 12:30 – Ron Smith, Atlanta Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Hub of the South
• 1:30 – Dr. Wendy Venet, A Changing Wind: Commerce and Conflict in Civil War Atlanta
• 2:30 – Dr. DL Henderson, South View: An African American City of the Dead
• 4:00 – Dr. Linton Hopkins, East Lake-Where Bobby Learned to Play
• 4:30 – Ren and Helen Davis, Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery
• 5:15 – Jason Flowers, Hello! Fat Crow!  **For the whole family**

Cathy Kaemmerlen, author, is signing her two books: Speaking Stones and General Sherman and the Georgia Belles at the Visitor Center throughout the afternoon.

Read more about these authors and their books.

Musical Performances –

Visitors will enjoy performances by members of the Atlanta Opera and from Big Bethel AME Church’s Heaven Bound Choir. Both groups will perform spirituals and works by African American composers as part of the free, family-friendly festival. Heaven Bound members will perform on the porch of the Visitor Center at 3:30 p.m., and Atlanta Opera members Jayme Alilaw (soprano) and B.E. Boykin (pianist and composer) will perform at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. at the African American Grounds Stage.

Other performances:

• 12:15 – Stately Village Dancers
• 1:00 – Duo Catanza
• 2:45 – Heidi and Friends
• 4:15 – Ah! Surely
• 5:10 – The Glory Hounds

Walking Tours – Enjoy a free 30 minute guided walking tour. All tours begin at the fountain unless indicated otherwise.

• Sights, Symbols & Stories of Oakland: 12:30, 1:30, 2:15, 3:15, 3:45, 4:45, 5:00, 5:15
• Black Magnolias: 12:45
• Civil War Family Stories – 12:30, 1:00, 1:30. These tours begin at the Guard House.
• Epitaphs: The Immortality of Words: 3:30
• History, Mystery, and Mayhem: 2:30
• Oakland’s Tree Canopy: 1:00, 2:00, 3:00
• Oakland’s Boys of Summer Baseball Tour: 1:45
• Oakland’s All-Stars: Sports Legends of Oakland: 2:45
• Tech Tales: Oakland Cemetery and Georgia Tech
• We Shall Overcome: African American History of Oakland – 3:00 & 4:00

Costume Contest – The historical costume contest is a highlight of the Sunday in the Park festival. Whether Victorian, Roarin’ 20s, Steampunk, or just plain punk, we invite you to attend in historical costume and enter. Prizes will be handed out for winners in a range of categories including “Best Steampunk.”

• 1:45 – Close of registration at Lion Square
• 2:15 – Contest begins at Lion Square

Don’t Miss

• Pick up a Scavenger Hunt at the gates and submit completed entries to the Visitor Center for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the sold out Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween
• Visit some of Oakland’s most ornate Mausoleums: open for one-day only
• Historic Oakland Foundation’s Cultivated Plant Sale near the Coker Mausoleum

Artists Market – A diverse range of local artisans and vendors showcasing some of Atlanta’s best local goods and gifts. Stop by the Artists Market at North Public Grounds (near the main gate on Oakland Ave.) to shop and visit with more than two dozen artists.

Market Vendors:

• Dr. Mike’s Shaving Emporium
• Something New
• Tall Hawk Designs
• MyMy Butterfly
• Freakshow Couture
• Daedal Jewelry
• Freeman and Fugate
• Under the Slab
• Blackbird Finery
• Jamie Calkin Art. LLC
• Nomenclature Storehouse 
• Deathskiss Designs
• Vintage Vannety
• Emily Yellow
• Sistah’s Boutique
• Victoria Peterson
• Murder Charms
• Mary Boyle Handcrafted Jewelry

Community Partners:

• The Patch Works Art & History Center
• Atlanta Food Walks
• Arabia Alliance 
• Trees Atlanta

The Children’s Zone – Face-painting, a clown, puppet shows, and the Georgia Bubbleman make the Children’s Zone at Sunday in the Park a must-visit for families and kids of all ages. This year the Children’s Zone will be in Lion Square near the food trucks and Lion Square stage.