Epitaphs From a Forgotten Cemetery: Opera at Mount Vernon

Join Opera on Tap Philadelphia at Mount Vernon Cemetery, a forgotten Philly gem, as we usher in spooky season! Enjoy classical singing as the sun sets on a tour of this historical graveyard.

Gates will open at 5:30pm, with the cemetery tour to begin around 6:00pm.

The tour will make stops at specific locations throughout the cemetery, where our singers will perform classical songs and opera arias befitting the surroundings. We'll share stories of nature, night, death, remembrance, in multiple languages throughout all classical eras.

We'll continue past sunset, concluding back at the cemetery gate around 7:30pm.

Performers to be announced!

More about our gem, Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Established in 1856, historic Mount Vernon Cemetery (MVC) is the final resting place of approximately 33,000 people, including famous actors, beer barons, Revolutionary War soldiers, and many more! For over 30 years, the 28 acre property has been closed to the public and left to fall into near-total ruin. In March 2022, the Friends of Mount Vernon Cemetery (FMVC) took control of the blighted property and began remediation. Earlier this year, the courts approved the sale of MVC to Steelmantown Cemetery Corporation (SCC). Together the FMVC and SCC are working together to not only make MVC an active, thriving cemetery again, but also a cultural heritage destination and environmentally preserved green space.

Content Warning & Reminders:

The Opera Tour will include discussions of an adult nature that may be distressing to some visitors.

Please enter at Mount Vernon Cemetery's main gate, located at the corner of Ridge and Lehigh Avenues. The gates will be locked once the tour begins.

The tour will be going offroad. Regardless of weather, we strongly recommend wearing comfortable closed-toed shoes and long pants. The tour is not recommended for those with mobility issues or those that recquire assistance via canes or wheelchairs.

MVC is in a court-appointed conservatorship. As such, all visitors will need to sign an access waiver. Paperwork will be provided to you upon arrival.

All visitors are required to follow all rules and guidelines set forth by the cemetery's conservators and by the Friends of Mount Vernon Cemetery. Failure to adhere to these rules will result in immediate expulsion from the grounds without refund.

BYOF - Bring your own flashlight (or use the one on your phone)! It will be very dark after sunset.

FAQs

Is there parking?

Yes, FREE Parking along Lehigh Avenue across the street from the cemetery. There is NO PARKING inside MVC. We're also accessible via public transportation and a short walk from the East Falls Regional Rail Station.

Can I come and explore on my own/look for my family?

NO. Sorry, but No. We move through the property as a group. Anyone who goes off on their own is in violation of their access waiver and will be ejected from the property without refund.

Is MVC handicap accessible?

We at MVC are all about accessibility and inclusivity. Unfortunately however, the grounds are simply too overgrown and rough to accommodate wheelchairs, strollers, etc. We look forward to remedying that in the near future.

Are there bathrooms?

Yes, there is a porta-potty on the property.

If you haven't been to the cemetery before, check out some gorgeous pictures of the space including pictures from the Twilight Tour in May, where Opera on Tap Philly sang a set.

Host or Publisher Opera on Tap Philadelphia