General Information about The Historical Cemetery Tour
The Historical Society of Long Beach holds the Annual Historical Cemetery Tour at Long Beach Municipal Cemetery and Sunnyside Cemetery on the last Saturday of October. The all-ages event features graveside performances by community theater actors portraying the life of the person lying at rest. Actors perform in period-appropriate costumes. Each year’s program features a number of stories – some are individuals who helped shape the city’s political past, others are ordinary people whose tales remind us that rich or poor, famed or nearly forgotten, everyone has a story to tell. Attractions include Japanese American History, a dia de Los Muertos installation, talks by historians, authors signing local history books, and displays of Long Beach history.
The tour is self-guided. First-person performances last 10 minutes and are repeated every 20 minutes from 9 AM to 2:40 PM. Arrive before noon for the full experience.
The event attracts 1500 participants and engages the support of volunteers, the City of Long Beach Parks, Recreation, and Marine, community, and regional leaders. Sponsors help keep ticket prices affordable.
The Historical Cemetery Tour is the signature event of the Historical Society of Long Beach.
It’s the most fun you will have in a cemetery.
Know Before You Go – 29th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour
Thank you for purchasing a ticket and supporting the Historical Society of Long Beach 29th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour!
Know Before You Go—29th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour
This beloved community event will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 9am to 3pm at Sunnyside and Municipal Cemeteries (1095 & 1151 E Willow St, Long Beach, CA 90806). Gates open at 8:30am. Arrive before noon to see it all!
Read below to help plan your trip to the 28th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour
I. Parking
Compact and sedan-sized vehicles are welcome to park inside Sunnyside Cemetery gates on a first-come, first-served basis. Cemetery parking is also available at Willow Springs Park along Orange Ave. The Willow Springs Park Cemetery Tour entrance is not wheelchair accessible. Please see below for further details on accessibility at this event.
There will be additional parking at the Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor (1401 E Willow St, Signal Hill, CA 90755) located on the corner of Gundry Ave and Willow St, just a short walk away from the cemeteries.
Street parking is allowed in the surrounding neighborhood, but please follow all city restrictions.
Parking is limited! Public transportation, carpooling, ridesharing, biking, or walking to the event is encouraged.
II. Checking In
Upon arrival, check in at any of our three ticket booths, whether you have already purchased tickets or not. Ticket booths are located at Sunnyside Cemetery behind the office building at the main entrance, at Municipal Cemetery along its Willow St. entrance, and at Municipal Cemetery along its Willow Springs Park pedestrian entrance. You will present your electronic ticket(s) at the booth. Have the QR code ready to scan.
If you have not purchased tickets or would like to purchase more, you may do so at any ticket booth. Tickets on the day of the event will be $30; HSLB members will receive a 10% discount. Please use a credit/debit card to pay. This is a cashless event. You will receive a wristband once your tickets have been verified or purchased onsite. Please keep this wristband on for the remainder of your visit.
III. What to Bring
Keep in mind that this event is entirely outdoors.
* Check the weather before you go. Plan your attire and sun protection accordingly.
* The cemetery grounds are uneven. Comfortable shoes are encouraged. Walking sticks are welcome.
* We advise against bringing any pets unless they are required for medical or therapeutic reasons. The event is lively and can be stressful for most domestic animals.
* There is limited seating at all the performances. Please feel free to bring a folding chair or blanket.
* Be sure to stay hydrated. Bring a reusable water bottle. A refill station will be available.
IV. Refreshments
You can bring a picnic lunch, water, and snacks to enjoy during the event. There will be a rest and refreshment area with limited seating, as well as a station to refill your water bottles. You are also welcome to respectfully lay a blanket or folding chairs on the lawn and enjoy the beauty and charm of these historic cemeteries with family and friends, but please be mindful of where the performances are happening so that everyone can enjoy the event. We also ask you to please dispose of all trash and recyclables in the appropriate containers.
Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department rules still apply to all spaces within Sunnyside and Municipal cemeteries. This includes no smoking, alcoholic beverages, or amplified music or sounds. Guests who do not adhere to these rules may be asked to leave.
V. Accessibility
Some of the performances will be more accessible this year to those using wheelchairs, walkers, and motorized scooters. A temporary accessibility ramp and mobility mats will be added to Sunnyside Cemetery located between #14 and #6 on the tour map.
If you need accessible parking, Sunnyside Cemetery and the Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor are better for wheelchair and scooter access to the cemeteries. There will also be a drop-off area at the corner of Willow Street and California Avenue.
Paved driveways are available at both cemeteries, but they are located some distance from where the actors perform.
There are NO curb-cuts for personal wheeled vehicles, but the curbs are lower in some areas. You may need to lift your wheelchair or scooter unless your device has the ability to climb several inches.
VI. Finding Your Way Around
All guests attending the event will receive a program containing a map with all the performances, attractions, and amenities marked. If you have questions about where to find anything you need, just ask one of our HSLB staff or volunteers for assistance.
You can also find a full schedule and maps with performance times on the ticket purchasing page.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
2025 Performances and Attractions
About the Cemeteries
Long Beach Municipal Cemetery and Sunnyside Cemetery are located on Willow Street between Orange and California and adjacent to one another. Both cemeteries are owned and operated by the City of Long Beach. Together they are “home” to more than 20,000 past residents of the area.
Sponsorship
Show your support, represent your business, and reach a new audience!
Learn more about how you can advertise or sponsor this one-of-a-kind living history event.
Videos
The Land Between the Volcanos
Isabel Moore Hammer & Rosie Moore
Performed by Roxanne Martinez & Mariza Dominquez
Side Hustles
Dora Nunley and Effie Sanders
Performed by Zadie Cannon and Tara Brown
Votes for Women
Nina Cuthbert Jackson &Carolyn Jackson Miller
Performed by Madison Mooney & Halley Hardy
Recent Coverage
Awards
- Hollywood Gothique‘s 2014 Halloween Haunt Award Nominees
- Best Play in a Non-Theatrical Setting: HSLB’s 19th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour
- Best Short Play or Vignette: Fighting Injustice with Tacos from HSLB’s Historical Cemetery Tour
- Best Non-Haunt Halloween Event: HSLB’s 19th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour
Accessibility
If you have trouble walking or are in a wheelchair/scooter, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:
There is a drop-off area at the Sunnyside Cemetery (1095 E. Willow).
Paved driveways exist at both cemeteries, but they are set away from where the actors perform.
There are NO curb-cuts for wheeled vehicles, but the curbs are lower in some areas if you are able to lift your device or if your device has the ability to climb several inches.
Parking & Logistics
Compact and sedan sized vehicles are welcome to park inside Sunnyside Cemetery gates on a first come, first served basis.
There is some parking inside the cemetery, overflow parking is behind the cemetery at Willow Springs Park (enter from Orange Ave.), and there is also open street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.
The ground is uneven, so we recommend comfortable shoes. Typically, the morning is chilly while the afternoon is sunny and warm, so a sweater or light coat, a hat, and/or sunscreen is recommended.