There’s something magical about gathering among the monuments and whispering trees of Forest Home Cemetery on a crisp October evening. The air is cool, the light fades early, and the night seems alive with mystery, the perfect setting for our annual Spooky Stories and Poetry at the Mausoleum.


This year’s event brought chills, laughter, and a sense of community as readers shared haunting tales and eerie verses that echoed through the historic mausoleum. The flicker of candlelight and the rustle of autumn leaves. 


A heartfelt thank-you to our talented readers — Amy and Margaret, Matt, and Rachel — who brought their words to life and kept the audience spellbound. Each performance captured a different shade of “spooky,” from ghostly encounters to true stories of murders buried in Forest Home.


We’re also deeply grateful to our partners, the Forest Park Public Library and the Arts Alliance of Forest Park, for helping make this event possible. And a special thank-you to Forest Home Cemetery for allowing us to experience this unique and historic space in such a creative way.

On September 26, we held our second Movie at the Mausoleum at Forest Home Cemetery, and it was another wonderful evening for the community. This year’s film was Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, shown just outside the historic Lehmann Mausoleum. Guests gathered with blankets and chairs to enjoy a classic film in one of Forest Park’s most atmospheric settings.
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The event was a partnership between the Forest Park Public Library, the Park District of Forest Park, and the Historical Society of Forest Park. Big thanks to Cool Truck Treats for supplying the generator and offering movie snacks and sweets for sale throughout the night.
We’re grateful to Forest Home Cemetery for hosting us and allowing this unique event to take place in such a beautiful, historic space. Special thanks also go to Crystal and Kilian, whose luminary setup made the evening feel extra magical. Their lights lined the paths and added a gentle glow that perfectly fit the setting.
Thanks as well to everyone who helped us work through our technical difficulties and keep the evening running smoothly. Movie at the Mausoleum has quickly become a community favorite, and we look forward to continuing the tradition next year.