Spirits in October 2011 Tours

Thu, Oct 20 2011, 6:15p.m. - Sat, Oct 29 2011, 9:00p.m.
Riverside Cemetery, Macon, GA, United States

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Description:

Visitors sign up to arrive at 15 minute intervals from 6:00 - 9:00 P.M. for a one hour guided walking tour. (Last tour ends at 10:00 P.M.) Actors in costume at graveside put a human face on history! The stories they enact allow visitors to experience the rich, varied texture of life in Civil War Macon.

Whose spirits will materialize? Maybe William and Ellen Craft, who escaped from slavery through a bold and ingenious disguise. Though celebrated in Europe they longed to return home to the American South. Maybe Lucia Griswold Conn Hardeman, who marched on Sherman in defense of her captured bridegroom.

Groups of 12-15 visitors tour the cemetery with a guide to meet spirits from the Civil War era, including a Confederate encampment atop the parapet, an earthen fortification built in 1864 as a point of lookout and defense.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 20 - 22 and October 27 - 29. $20 adults; $15 seniors and military; $10 students. $25 purchases a ticket and a one-year membership to Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy. (An online ticketing fee will be added at the time of purchase.) Bring your sense of adventure, printed tickets, a flashlight (if you are coming to a later tour) and wear comfortable shoes.

Tickets are non-refundable. In the event of rain, you will be given a pass for a guided tour on Sunday, October 30th, at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Ticket proceeds benefit the non-profit, Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy.

What People Are Saying

Ed Bertram 200 days ago Reply

I just want to thank everyone who helped put this together. My wife and I are new to Macon, and have been looking for fun things to do on weekends. This was a jackpot for us! There can be no valid complaints based on the great job done, reasonable price, absolute quality, and hospitality we found. Thanks again and please know that any reasonable person could have only walked away satisfied. Happy Halloween!!!
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 191 days ago
  
  Ed, thanks for the kind words. Welcome to Macon. It is a great place to live and we are proud to present Macon's history at Spirits in October.
  
  Suzanne Doonan, Director
  Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy
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Lucia Carr 202 days ago Reply

My daughter & i loved ths Spirits in October tour !! The "Spirit" enactors
did a fantastic job. Of course, I was somewhat partial to the actress who
protrayed Lucia Griswold Conn Hardeman since she was my great - great- grandmother :) Make sure you go this weekend before it ends for this year !
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 191 days ago
  
  Lucia, it was an honor to portray the story of your great-great-grandmother. The actresses who portrayed her by turns felt privileged to meet you and other descendants.
  
  Best-
  Suzanne Doonan, Director
  Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy
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Peggy Birch 202 days ago Reply

As someone who has experienced and enjoyed visiting historic cemeteries across the world from Europe to Hiroshima, from California to Charleston and Savannah, I have to say that this event, Spirits in October, was a wonderful experience for me. I was born in raised in Macon yet had no idea of the history of Riverside Cemetery. The actors were absolutely fantastic...their stories...enthralling. Thank you Suzanne and all the volunteers who helped make this a great event for us all!
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 191 days ago
  
  Peggy, this is high praise from a widely traveled connoisseur!! Many thanks.
  
  Suzanne Doonan, Director
  Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy
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Suzanne Marie Doonan 202 days ago Reply

Yippee!
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Ruth Birch Sykes 203 days ago Reply

As a first-time volunteer Spirit Guide, I have had an amazing time leading guests through the cemetery and hearing their surprise and excitement at all they learn along the way, then hearing the positive buzz back at the Gatehouse over hot cider and ginger snaps. I'm sad we only have three nights left!
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 191 days ago
  
  Ruth, you are a delightful tour guide, Thanks for lending your charm and talent to brighten our event!!!
  
  Suzanne Doonan, Director
  Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy
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JJ Hobbs 204 days ago Reply

My parents had a fantastic time at this event. What a wonderful thing for Macon and the surrounding community! Thank you so much to all the volunteers, and especially to Suzanne Doonan for coordinating everything. Well-organized, entertaining, and educational. Thanks again!!
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Suzanne Marie Doonan 205 days ago Reply

Thanks, David! Glad you enjoyed Spirits in October!
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David Israel 205 days ago Reply

This was really fun. We brought out-of-town guests. We all had a great time. Things were just perfect! I like having such a great program here just a mile or two from my house in such a pretty setting.
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- Suzanne Marie Doonan 191 days ago
  
  David, so glad you came and enjoyed it. Will we see you again at Full Moon Euphoria?
  
  Suzanne Doonan, Director
  Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 191 days ago
  
  David, so glad you came and enjoyed it. Will we see you again at Full Moon Euphoria?
  
  Suzanne Doonan, Director
  Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 191 days ago
  
  David, so glad you came and enjoyed it. Will we see you again at Full Moon Euphoria?
  
  Suzanne Doonan, Director
  Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 191 days ago
  
  David, so glad you came and enjoyed it. Will we see you again at Full Moon Euphoria?
  
  Suzanne Doonan, Director
  Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 191 days ago
  
  David, so glad you came and enjoyed it. Will we see you again at Full Moon Euphoria?
  
  Suzanne Doonan, Director
  Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 191 days ago
  
  David, so glad you came and enjoyed it. Will we see you again at Full Moon Euphoria?
  
  Suzanne Doonan, Director
  Historic Riverside Cemetery Conservancy
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Trina Harvey Dobson 207 days ago Reply

My child and mother are going tonight I had only inquired about bring a wine basket and really got negative feed back I support most projects downtown but this is not the way to handle changes. I gifted these tickets before I even went to the event. I am not sure who made of the tickets but the ticket holders should have been considered and I was trying to remedy to have people who would enjoy.
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 205 days ago
  
  Trina, I sat down just now to contact you for the very reason that I heard that your daughter had been to the event and I was concerned that she might not have received her t-shirts. You see, the volunteers working the event would not have known to offer them to her. The fault is all mine as the organizer of the event. As for the wine and cheese, our offering this year was cider and cookies instead of a glass of wine and a small plate of hors d'oeuvres. I ask you to allow me to compensate for any insufficiency in your expectations.
- Trina Harvey Dobson 205 days ago
  
  It was one thing to be short with me and ken but when it was repeated to my child and mother I do not think anything could be done to make up for the way we were treated.
  Trina
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Trina Harvey Dobson 208 days ago Reply

when you sell tickets says you are doing wine and cheese and you decide this is a negative watch outr all information not given
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- JJ Hobbs 207 days ago
  
  Oh - so it is not something advertised online. Well, that's a good thing. I am not sure what happened with tickets sold at Macon Taste of Arts. You might want to contact Suzanne at Riverside to see what can be done if you paid a lot of extra money for your ticket with the promise of a wine and cheese reception. I am sure this was an extremely innocent error made by well-meaning people who have worked very hard to make this a wonderful event for the entire community to enjoy. There are appropriate methods you can use to set this straight that might be more effective than a facebook post.
- Trina Harvey Dobson 207 days ago
  
  I have not found anyone that might deal or act very nice when asked about the situation.
- Trina Harvey Dobson 207 days ago
  
  My tickets were bought at the Macon taste of arts and I paid a premium I am looking at the ticket and my purchase receipt. My child is going tonight and I left the ticket with someone working the computer last night. I had intended on fixing her a wine basket and leaving it at the table and covering for the error. Bad response. I will be glad to email a scaned copy of my ticket.
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 205 days ago
  
  Trina, please be in touch to let me work this out to your satisfaction. Call me at 742-5328. We did make changes in the event structure after the Taste of the Arts certificates were printed. Your purchase of the tickets helped to support Macon Arts Alliance which is a resource for all the arts and culture nonprofits in Middle Georgia. Thanks.
- Suzanne Marie Doonan 207 days ago
  
  Trina, this is me, Suzanne. We talked when you came to the tour and I gave you your t-shirts. I am glad to take full responsibility for the error on the gift receipt and would appreciate the opportunity to make this up to you. You may recall pointing out to me that the tickets you purchased only offered one weekend of tours, and I told you that you and your daughter could use the tickets any time over two weekends. :) Just as I extended to you that favor, I would be grateful to you if you would give me the favor of allowing me to make up the lack of a wine and cheese reception to you and your daughter or other guests.
- JJ Hobbs 207 days ago
  
  Hi Trina!! Where does it say that they are doing wine and cheese? I can't find it anywhere, and if it is accidentally posted somewhere that this is happening, I am sure Suzanne would want to know. She is EXTREMELY honest and conscientious. She has poured heart, soul and time into this event, and I am sure that she does not want to give out any false impression. This is a big, time-consuming, labor- intense, and volunteer-driven fundraiser. I would hate for the reputation to be tarnished by something like this. I have scoured the Internet and cannot find where it says there will be wine and cheese. Please let me know and I will take care of this.
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