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This fall, Albuquerque’s Fairview Historic Cemetery invites the community to step back in time and help preserve its past through two special events. The 4th Annual Victorian Picnic and Scavenger Hunt on Oct. 26 and the Day of the Dead Fundraiser at the Painted Lady Bed & Brew on Nov. 1 offer unique ways to celebrate history and support the city’s oldest cemetery.
Pam Wendt, treasurer of Historic Fairview Cemetery, helped launch the Victorian Picnic with a nod to 19th-century traditions. “The Victorians, since they didn’t have public parks, used cemeteries as green space,” says Wendt. “They would go on Sundays after church and have picnics with their departed loved ones.”
Inspired by that tradition, the modern event blends history, community and creativity. Guests are invited to bring their own food, blankets or tables and dress in Victorian, steampunk or casual attire. A highlight of the day is the scavenger hunt, which turns the cemetery’s stories into a historical treasure hunt.
“We write up a paragraph with highlights about the different people buried here,” says Wendt. “Then people search for the graves and collect keychain tags with related images.”
Admission is $10, which includes a T-shirt and access to fabric paints for creating a wearable keepsake. Hot cocoa and tea will be available to help keep attendees warm in the event of cold weather.
The picnic runs from 10 a.m. to dusk on Sunday, Oct. 26 and is open to all ages. Visitors are encouraged to enter through Fairview Memorial Park (700 Yale Blvd. SE) and follow signs set up by staff for directions.
Just days later, the celebration continues in a different style at the Day of the Dead Fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 10 p.m. Hosted at the cozy Painted Lady Bed & Brew (1100 Bellemah Ave. NW), the event features a lecture on “Murder and Mayhem” by Wendt, a collection of personal “Ghost Stories” from local ghost hunter Cody Polston and live tarot readings. There will also be a raffle with prizes donated by local wineries and businesses. Admission is free, and guests can purchase raffle tickets to support restoration efforts.
“One of our regulars who had a connection to Fairview pitched some sort of idea, and then we came back with ‘Day of the Dead is open,’ and it works. Let’s see what we can do to make a fun event,’” said Jesse Herron, owner of Painted Lady Bed & Brew.
Though festive, the event has a deeper mission: funding restoration work at the cemetery. In the past few years, volunteers and donors have helped clear overgrown areas and revive neglected plots.
All proceeds from both events support ongoing cemetery restoration. Thanks to community support and creative partnerships, progress continues but upkeep on the cemetery – established all the way back in 1881 – is ongoing.
“We’ve done an amazing job cleaning up the cemetery, but there’s still more to do,” said Wendt. “Every event like this helps us take one more step.”
For more information on both events, visit historicfairviewcemeteryabq.org