Death Cafe
2025-01-22 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-02-19 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Credit: Jothan Cashero

The Death Cafe is a simple yet powerful idea: bring people together to openly discuss one of life’s greatest truths—death. With thousands of chapters in over 90 countries, Death Cafes are informal gatherings designed to “increase awareness of death to help people make the most of their lives.” There’s no set agenda, but conversations might explore topics like burial vs. cremation, green burials, planning funerals and celebrations of life, or personal experiences with grief.

Price: Free. Registration required.

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In-Person Event(see details below)

Join us in the Cemetery’s Modern Chapel to share your thoughts, hopes, and questions in a safe, welcoming space—over tea and pastries.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Where to go: This program will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

The Modern Chapel is not fully ADA Compliant. Before reserving tickets, we encourage visitors to contact our staff with any questions regarding accommodations and accessibility for this program. Please call 718-210-3080, ext. 1 or email events@green-wood.com.

Silent Book Club of Death
2025-01-28 18:30 - 20:00
Wouldn’t it be great to have a book club where you could just read and enjoy the company of other bibliophiles—without any homework? Silent Book Clubs are taking place across the country for friends and strangers to gather, share what they’re learning between the pages, and settle in for an hour of silent, sustained reading. At the Silent Book Club of Death, we do things a little differently—reading books that surround themes of grief, loss, and mortality. There are only three chapters in the entire country and Green-Wood is proud to serve as one of the New York chapters’ venues.

Price: Free. Registration required.

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In-Person Event(see details below)

Bring your own book or borrow one from our library. We will mingle before setting the timer to read, and once the hour’s up, death doula and illustrator Lauren Seeleywill lead a group discussion on these universal, yet challenging topics.

*Participation in discussion is entirely optional—you can engage as much or as little as you feel comfortable.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Where to go: Check-in will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

The Modern Chapel is not fully ADA Compliant. Before reserving tickets, we encourage visitors to contact our staff with any questions regarding accommodations and accessibility for this program. Please call 718-210-3080, ext. 1 or email events@green-wood.com.

Grieving and Weaving
2025-02-11 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-03-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-04-17 18:30 - 20:30
Stitching together creativity and community, this knitting and crocheting group is unique for one reason: it meets in a cemetery. Whether you’re an expert with yarn or just starting out, you are welcome to join us as we share stories, skills, and grief resources in the comfort of Green-Wood’s Modern Chapel. As we create together, we’ll talk about the significance of handmade items in both our personal and collective histories. To hear about past attendees’ experiences, listen and/or read to this piece featured on NPR.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Beginners can join our knitting and crochet tutorial groups, while experienced crafters are encouraged to bring ongoing projects and mentor others. Feel free to bring your own yarn, needles, and hooks; some materials will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Not a knitter? Not to worry, you can bring whatever other crafts you are working on.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Where to go: This program will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

The Modern Chapel is not fully ADA Compliant. Before reserving tickets, we encourage visitors to contact our staff with any questions regarding accommodations and accessibility for this program. Please call 718-210-3080, ext. 1 or email events@green-wood.com.

Artful Remembrance: A Creative Grief Workshop
2025-02-23 13:00 - 15:30
Join us for a reflective Sunday afternoon as we explore the intersections of grief and creativity with two of our grief literacy partners, Postal Service for the Dead and Life and Soul.

We invite you to honor those you’ve lost by creating collaged cards and typewritten letters at interactive art stations. This event offers the opportunity to explore art as a powerful tool for processing emotions in a supportive community setting.

Price: Free. Registration required.

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In-Person Event(see details below)

Along the way, we’ll discuss the importance of grief and how it can be expressed and channeled through creativity, whether for personal reflection or to be shared with others. You’ll also hear how our partner organizations incorporate this concept into their work. Come share, create, and celebrate the memories of those who remain close to your heart.

Presented in partnership with Postal Service For the Dead and with Death of the Party by Life & Soul.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer more death education programs like this throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Where to go: This program will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Supplies will be available, but if you wish to bring your own materials, you are welcome to.

The Modern Chapel is not fully ADA Compliant. Before reserving tickets, we encourage visitors to contact our staff with any questions regarding accommodations and accessibility for this program. Please call 718-210-3080, ext. 1 or email events@green-wood.com.

Death Cafe
2025-03-27 18:30 - 20:00
Credit: Jothan Cashero

The Death Cafe is a simple yet powerful idea: bring people together to openly discuss one of life’s greatest truths—death. With thousands of chapters in over 90 countries, Death Cafes are informal gatherings designed to “increase awareness of death to help people make the most of their lives.” There’s no set agenda, but conversations might explore topics like burial vs. cremation, green burials, planning funerals and celebrations of life, or personal experiences with grief.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

Virtual EventA Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

Join us on Zoom to share your thoughts, hopes, and questions in a safe, welcoming virtual space.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer more death education programs like this throughout the year.

Sunday in the Cemetery
2025-05-04 10:00 - 17:00
Credit: Jothan Cashero

Sunday in the Cemetery is a day-long exploration of mortality at Green-Wood. We invite you to candidly engage with grief and death through a compassionate, supportive lens. This free, open-house style event brings together leading experts for engaging talks, workshops, and guided tours that illuminate end-of-life care, funeral traditions, and memorial arts. Through personal stories and interactive experiences, discover community through shared human experiences and gain insights into how we can each live well and remember meaningfully.

Price: Free. Donations encouraged.

In-Person Event(see details below)

Before Reserving Your Spot, Please Note:

Registration: Advanced reservation is strongly recommended. We may reach capacity, potentially turning away late arrivals. While registration is recommended, it does not guarantee entry. Only one space may be reserved per person.

Location: Programs will take place at various locations and times throughout the day. Please check the schedule for details on your selected events.

Donation: Although programs are free, we invite each registrant to support Green-Wood’s ongoing death education initiatives through a voluntary contribution, enabling us to continue offering meaningful community programs throughout the year.

Accessibility: The Historic Chapel is a historic landmark structure and is not ADA Compliant. Access requires ascending and descending stairs. The Modern Chapel is not fully ADA compliant, however, accommodations for entrance can be made for visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Before reserving tickets, we encourage visitors to contact our staff with any questions regarding accommodations and accessibility at 718-210-3080, ext. 1 or events@green-wood.com.

A Little More About Safety: Walking tour routes cover hilly, grassy, and uneven terrain.This tour is not accessible for those using wheelchairs or other mobility aids and may be difficult for those with balance or other mobility issues. There is no place to sit down during the tour. We strongly encourage attendees to wear suitable footwear.

Movement for Grief

10:00am – 11:30amOutdoor Workshop, meets at the Modern Chapel

Begin your morning at Sunday in the Cemetery with guided movement meditation, setting a reflective tone for the conversations and workshops later in the day.

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Led by a teacher from ONEYOGAHOUSE, this gentle practice invites participants of all levels to connect with Green-Wood’s landscape through breathwork, mindful movement, and sound meditation. As we honor the intricate cycles of life and death, this meditative session will ground us in presence, preparing our hearts and minds for the profound explorations to follow.

Art in the Cemeteryscape

10:00am – 11:30amWalking Tour meets at the Gothic Arch

This interactive walking tour reimagines Green-Wood’s historic landscape as an open-air museum filled with soaring obelisks, intricately carved sculptures, and stately mausoleums.

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Guide Deborah Chi will lead you to uncover the rich artistry, symbolism, and evolving styles that characterize these memorials, while fostering meaningful conversations about how the emotions they evoke and what they reveal about human expression.

As we move through this evocative space, you’ll gain a fresh perspective on the cemetery as not just a place of rest, but as a profound gallery of artistic achievement where history, memory, and craftsmanship intertwine.

Deborah Chi is a tour guide whose focus is how art and storytelling can help foster human connection and social transformation.

Joanna Ebenstein Reading & Signing

12pm – 1:30pmBook Talk and Q&A Session meets in the Modern Chapel – Chapel A

Morbid Anatomy Founder & Creative Director Joanna Ebenstein joins the Sunday in the Cemetery celebrations with a reading from her most recent publication, Memento Mori: The Art of Contemplating Death to Live a Better Life, the cornerstone for Morbid Anatomy’s Memento Mori Fest activities, followed by a Q&A.

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Also visit Morbid Anatomy’s Library Pop-Up Table that will be open from 12pm-5pm. (12pm-5pm:, Modern Chapel Lobby). Visit the Morbid Anatomy pop-up throughout the day for a selection of books and object d’arte from our Library & Shop.

Natural Endings

12:00pm – 1:30pmLecture and Optional Walking Tour meets in the Modern Chapel – Chapel B

Around the world, people are answering the call to make our final farewell better for the planet. But with so many new methods, what are the best and “greenest” options?

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This program begins with a presentation by funeral director Amy Cunningham about the importance of eco-conscious funeral practices, exploring sustainable alternatives to traditional burial methods, and the emergence of environmentally friendly funeral rituals.

Green-Wood memorial counselors will discuss natural burial opportunities at the Cemetery to show you what green burial looks like right here in Brooklyn! After the session has concluded, there will be an optional walking tour to Cedar Dell, an area designated for natural burials.

Amy Cunningham is the founder and owner of Fitting Tribute Funeral Services in Brooklyn, NY, and serves the community through lectures on green burial, cremation, grief literacy and more.

Your End of Life Lineup

2:00pm – 3:30pmPanel Conversation in the Modern Chapel – Chapel A

This panel brings together four death-care professionals—a funeral director, a thanatologist, a death doula, and a chaplain—for an illuminating conversation on the professionals that make up your end-of-life lineup.

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Through both moderated and audience-fielded question and answer, these experts will unpack the emotional, spiritual, practical, and philosophical dimensions of death and dying. You’ll get an intimate glimpse into the complex rituals, personal journeys, difficult conversations, and profound transformations that surround life’s most universal transition.

Speakers:

Emma Acker is the founder of All’s Well Initiative and serves her community as a death doula for mainly unhoused individuals in New York.

Erica Hill is the owner of Sparrow Funeral home in Greenpoint and a licensed funeral director.

Matilda Garrido is a certified thanatologist with extensive experience working with the dying, families of the dying, and the bereaved.

Joo Young Hong is a board certified chaplain and the manager of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.

Navigating Pet Grief

2:00pm – 3:30pmPanel Conversation in the Modern Chapel – Chapel B

This panel brings together veterinary grief counselors, cremation specialists, and pet memorial experts to explore the emotional landscape of pet loss and the diverse options for honoring companion animals after death.

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You’ll gain insights into grief processing, cremation alternatives, memorial practices, and healing rituals that recognize the deep bonds between humans and their animal companions, along with support and practical guidance for moving through one of life’s most tender transitions.

Speakers:

Lauren Seeley is a death and grief doula for humans and animals, and serves as a death educator with special focus on LGBTQIA+ end-of-life care.

Jessica Fragola is the lead veterinarian and founder of Paws at Peace.

Jennifer Muldowney, funeral celebrant and founder of Muldowney Memorials, specializes in services for pets.

Grieving and Weaving

2:00pm – 5:00pmHands-on Workshop in the Historic Chapel

Join artist Mary Pat Klein for an afternoon of knitting and crocheting that explores creativity, contemplation, and healing through textile arts.

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Discover the therapeutic potential of tactile crafts in processing grief. All skill levels are welcome;tutorials are available for beginners and experienced crafters of any medium may work on their new or ongoing projects. A limited number of materials for crafting will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mary Pat Klein is a renowned yarn craftsperson whose work has been part of Oscar-nominated costume design teams, and has been featured on Broadway and television.

Sacred Grounds: Cemetery Sips & Stories

4:00pm – 5:00pmMeet and Greet in the Modern Chapel – Chapels A & B

At this intimate and informal gathering Green-Wood’s gravediggers, crematory operators, memorial counselors, local death-care-industry professionals, and community members will join us for candid and supportive conversations about death work. While mingling over light refreshments, you’ll have unprecedented access to the professionals who quietly steward our final transitions and work to demystify death care.

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Wings Over Green-Wood
2025-06-07 15:30 - 19:30
Credit: Evan Rabeck

Join us for an enchanting evening celebrating the vibrant birdlife of Green-Wood and the symbolic connections between birds and the Cemetery’s historic landscape.

The program will begin with a panel discussion with Emily Hayflick, Green-Wood’s inaugural History Fellow, and other experts examining the symbolism of birds in mourning practices from the Victorian era to today.

Price: Free, registration required.

In-Person Event(see details below)

Then, settle in for a film screening curated by Green-Wood’s current Artists in Residence, Shanzhai Lyric. Their selections focus on the poetics and politics of parrots, which they’ve called “the original mimicry artists.”

Before Reserving Your Spot, Please Note:

Tickets: There is no need to print tickets! Attendees will be checked in by name.

Where To Go: Check-in takes place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Accessibility & Safety: The Modern Chapel is not fully ADA compliant, however, accommodations for entrance can be made for visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Before reserving tickets, we encourage visitors to contact our staff with any questions regarding accommodations and accessibility at 718-210-3080, ext. 1 or events@green-wood.com.

Birds in Mourning: Symbolism,Ritual, and Remembrance

Saturday, June 7, 3:30 – 5pmLocation: Modern Chapel

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Credit: Evan Rabeck

From the gentle dove to the mysterious raven, birds have carried powerful symbolic meaning in grief and mourning traditions. During the Victorian and Edwardian eras in the United States, bird imagery adorned funeral rites, floral arrangements, and even elegant taxidermy displays, showcasing profound connections between nature and remembrance.

Join Emily Hayflick, Green-Wood’s inaugural History Fellow, as she shares her research on how the Cemetery has evolved as both a sacred place of mourning and a vibrant destination for leisure—and the role played by birds and birding along the way. Experience a riveting discussion as Emily is joined by a panel of experts who will explore the connections between mourning traditions and the natural world.

Panelists include:

Divya Anantharaman is an artist, taxidermist, and educator whose practice specializes in birds. Their award-winning work centers reverence and compassion, and seeks to combine the demonstrative aspect of scientific presentation with the symbolic, introspective nature of art. You can learn more at Gotham Taxidermy.

Allison C. Meier is a writer, editor, and researcher on art, culture, and history. She is the author of Grave and regularly leads tours at The Green-Wood Cemetery, including ones highlighting symbolism and nature.

Jenny Monick spent 30 years as a visual artist, writer, and educator. She now works around the edges of wildlife rehabilitation, end of life care, community science, and architectural preservation.

Free, registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to The Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer more programs like this throughout the year.

I Speak, Therefore I Am: Parrots in Film

Saturday, June 7, 5:30-7:30pmLocation: Modern Chapel

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From lush jungle canopies to the stone spires of Green-Wood, parrots have journeyed across oceans and centuries, tracing the path of human ambition and desire. These loud-voiced mimics—once pirate companions and symbols of imperial power—now forge surprising lives in our cityscapes, their calls both strange and familiar.

Join Shanzhai Lyric, Green-Wood’s 2025 Artist in Residence, for a film program exploring the intricate, evolving relationship between humans and parrots. Through experimental documentary and poetic visual essays, we’ll reflect on how these creatures—masters of mimicry yet undeniably their own—challenge us to rethink ideas of home, communication, and freedom.

About the artists:

The poetic inquiry of Shanzhai Lyric uses the concept of “shanzhai”—the Chinese term for counterfeit—as a framework through which to reconsider notions of ownership and property. Its stewards, Ming Lin and Alex Tatarsky, both born and raised in New York, draw inspiration from their Lower Manhattan neighborhood, particularly the immigrant community of street vendors, small business owners, and artists around Canal Street, the city’s hub for counterfeit goods. Circulating an archive of over 400 shanzhai poetry-garments, Shanzhai Lyric engages with global production schemes by considering the politics and poetics of the bootleg garment. Their residency focuses on Green-Wood’s colony of monk parakeets who are celebrated for their unique place in the city’s ecosystem, and whom they’ve called “the original mimicry artists.”

Shanzhai Lyric have previously exhibited their work in national and international institutions, including MoMA PS1; Henry Moore Institute; and Times Museum, among others. Shanzhai Lyric’s practice has been supported by numerous residencies, including the LES Studio Program at Cuchifritos, Canal Projects, and Cité des arts.

Films Include:

Yma Sumac: Chuncho (1953) 3:36

Dubbed the Peruvian Songbird, Yma Sumac is said to have acquired her incredible vocal range by imitating the birds of the Andean mountains. Here, she sings alongside them.

The Great Silence (2017) 16:00

The site of the Arecibo Observatory is home to the last remaining, critically endangered Puerto Rican parrots. This film by artists Allora & Calzadilla, in collaboration with science fiction author Ted Chiang, explores translation as a device to trace the slippery space between the human and non-human.

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2005) 1:23

An unemployed musician cares for the community of wild parrots that reside just outside his home. When the neighborhood begins to upscale, and displacement from his rent-free cabin becomes imminent, he both fears the parrots’ fate and finds solace among them—leading him to question the limits of human freedom.

Free, registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to The Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer more programs like this throughout the year.

Grieving & Weaving
2025-06-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-07-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-09-16 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-10-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-11-13 18:30 - 20:30
Credit: Jordana Bermudez

Stitching together creativity and community, this knitting and crocheting group is unique for one reason: it meets in a cemetery. Whether you’re an expert with yarn or just starting out, you are welcome to join us as we share stories, skills, and grief resources in the comfort of Green-Wood’s Modern Chapel. As we create together, we’ll talk about the significance of handmade items in both our personal and collective histories. To hear about past attendees’ experiences, listen and/or read to this piece featured on NPR.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

Beginners can join our knitting and crochet tutorial groups, while experienced crafters are encouraged to bring ongoing projects and mentor others. Feel free to bring your own yarn, needles, and hooks; some materials will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Not a knitter? Not to worry, you can bring whatever other crafts you are working on.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Where to go: This program will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

The Modern Chapel is not fully ADA Compliant. Before reserving tickets, we encourage visitors to contact our staff with any questions regarding accommodations and accessibility for this program. Please call 718-210-3080, ext. 1 or email events@green-wood.com.

Zen & The Art of Filming Family Interviews
2025-06-17 18:30 - 20:30
This workshop offers a unique approach to capturing meaningful video interviews with families, guided by Zen Buddhist principles and a lens of contemplative care. We’ll explore how memory shapes our understanding of legacy, especially after significant life events like funerals or milestones in grief. In the serene setting of the Cemetery, we’ll reflect on how the landscape can inspire how we wish to be remembered, both physically and digitally.

Price: Free. Registration required.

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In-Person Event(see details below)

Whether you’re new to video production or have experience, our facilitator Elyse Neiman Seiter will provide the tools and confidence to create authentic, lasting video stories. You’ll learn essential skills, including interview techniques, filming basics, storytelling, video editing, and how to build a meaningful legacy.

Elyse Neiman Seiter is an Emmy award-winning TV producer, director, and filmmaker with two decades of experience in non-fiction TV and film. Through her company, Mindful Films, she documents and shares personal stories around illness, healing, and end-of-life.

This workshop will take place both indoors and outdoors (weather permitting).

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer more death education programs like this throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Where To Go: This program will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Accessibility & Safety: The Modern Chapel is not fully ADA compliant, however, accommodations for entrance can be made for visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Before reserving tickets, we encourage visitors to contact our staff with any questions regarding accommodations and accessibility at 718-210-3080, ext. 1, or events@green-wood.com.

Mortality & Me: Green-Wood’s Book Club
2025-06-23 18:30 - 20:00
It can be difficult to engage in conversations about grief: Will I say the wrong thing? Am I going to offend someone? Who wants to discuss morbid stuff anyway? Green-Wood’s book club, Mortality & Me, helps make death, dying, and end-of-life matters easier to talk about through compelling books that tackle these topics head on.

In this session, we’ll be reading Meghan Riordan Jarvis’ Can Anyone Tell Me? Essential Questions About Grief And Loss.

Price: Free. Registration required.

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Virtual EventA Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

Jarvis provides answers to the questions we tend to not vocalize, like, “Why can’t I remember anything well after my loss?” Her book balances the science of grief with emotional aspects, all the while using the healing power of humor.

While we highly encourage you to read the full text, you are still welcome to join if you haven’t. We’ll email you a PDF file of the passages from the book we will be focusing on in advance.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

The Art of Goodbye: German Expressionism
2025-08-06 18:30 - 19:30
Credit: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Street, Berlin, 1913, Museum of Modern Art.

The Art of Goodbye explores how artists have depicted loss throughout history. From ancient Greek funerary urns to medieval crucifixion altar pieces and haunting World War I trench scenes, the program delves into how different eras confronted grief. Each session highlights the artists, their works, and the societies that shaped or resisted these expressions of sorrow. Together, we’ll trace how art has served as a means to understand, express, and sometimes transcend loss.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

Virtual EventA Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

This evening’s session focuses on how German Expressionist artists of the early twentieth century confronted the turmoil of their time—war, social upheaval, and existential dread—by rejecting traditional beauty in favor of distorted forms, bold colors, and provocative imagery.

The Art of Goodbye is a series in Death Education led by Harry Weil, Green-Wood’s Vice President of Education and Public Programs who holds a PhD in art history and has lectured extensively on modern and contemporary art.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

Death Cafe on Zoom
2025-08-13 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-10-14 18:30 - 20:00

The Art of Goodbye: The Mourning Madonna
2025-08-27 18:30 - 19:30
Credit: Vincent van Gogh, Pietà, 1889, Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam

The Art of Goodbye explores how artists have depicted loss throughout history. From ancient Greek funerary urns to medieval crucifixion altar pieces and haunting World War I trench scenes, the program delves into how different eras confronted grief. Each session highlights the artists, their works, and the societies that shaped or resisted these expressions of sorrow. Together, we’ll trace how art has served as a means to understand, express, and sometimes transcend loss.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

Virtual EventA Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

This evening’s session focuses on how, in Christian art, depictions of the grieving Virgin Mary—Madonnas—have become enduring symbols of maternal loss.

The Art of Goodbye is a series in Death Education led by Harry Weil, Green-Wood’s Vice President of Education and Public Programs who holds a PhD in art history and has lectured extensively on modern and contemporary art.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

The Art of Goodbye: Romantic Landscapes
2025-09-10 18:30 - 19:30
Image credit: Caspar David Friedrich, The Cemetery Gate, ca. 1825

The Art of Goodbye explores how artists have depicted loss throughout history. From ancient Greek funerary urns to medieval crucifixion altar pieces and haunting World War I trench scenes, the program delves into how different eras confronted grief. Each session highlights the artists, their works, and the societies that shaped or resisted these expressions of sorrow. Together, we’ll trace how art has served as a means to understand, express, and sometimes transcend loss.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

Virtual EventA Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

This evening’s session focuses on painters of the nineteenth-century Romanticism Movement. Through their works, they sought to capture the awe-inspiring power of nature and the depths of human emotion, reflecting an era of profound transformation and imagination.

The Art of Goodbye is a series in Death Education led by Harry Weil, Green-Wood’s Vice President of Education and Public Programs who holds a PhD in art history and has lectured extensively on modern and contemporary art.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

Notes of Tribute: Viewing the 9/11 Memorial Lights
2025-09-11 19:00 - 21:00
Green-Wood serves as the final resting place for over 100 people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and in the years that followed. In their remembrance, we will gather on one of Green-Wood’s hills overlooking the city skyline to witness the tribute lights over lower Manhattan.

Our program will include words of remembrance and a reading of the names of 9/11 victims memorialized at Green-Wood. Music will anchor and guide us through the evening from sunset onward.

Price: Free, registration recommended.

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In-Person Event(see details below)

All are welcome.

Free, registration recommended. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer more community-minded programs like this throughout the year.

BEFORE REGISTERING, PLEASE NOTE:

Where to go: The event takes place at the Gothic Arch, located near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

No paper or e-tickets will be necessary. Attendees will not be checked in; registration is to gauge attendance.

A Little More About Safety: Follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Feeling Sick? Stay home if you are feeling sick or running a fever.

Inclement Weather Policy: We monitor the weather throughout the day for the best chance of proceeding with the event and will not make a final decision until at least 3 hours before the start time. Cancellations will be announced via Eventbrite email blasts, so check your email and spam folders.

Checking in: Please note that registration for this event is recommended but not required. Names will not be checked.

The Art of Goodbye: German Expressionism (Part Two)
2025-09-17 18:30 - 19:30
Credit: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Street, Berlin, 1913, Museum of Modern Art

The Art of Goodbye explores how artists have depicted loss throughout history. From ancient Greek funerary urns to medieval crucifixion altar pieces and haunting World War I trench scenes, the program delves into how different eras confronted grief. Each session highlights the artists, their works, and the societies that shaped or resisted these expressions of sorrow. Together, we’ll trace how art has served as a means to understand, express, and sometimes transcend loss.

Price: Free. Registration required.

Get Tickets

Virtual EventA Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

This evening’s session focuses on how German Expressionist artists of the early twentieth century confronted the turmoil of their time—war, social upheaval, and existential dread—by rejecting traditional beauty in favor of distorted forms, bold colors, and provocative imagery.

The Art of Goodbye is a series in Death Education led by Harry Weil, Green-Wood’s Vice President of Education and Public Programs who holds a PhD in art history and has lectured extensively on modern and contemporary art.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

Back to the Earth: Understanding Green Burial
2025-09-28 14:00 - 17:00
Join us for a hands-on, three-part program that invites participants to explore the philosophy, practice, and artistry of natural burial.

Over the course of the afternoon, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how we can care for our dead—and our planet—with intention, simplicity, and reverence.

Price: Free. Registration required.

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In-Person Event(see details below)

The program includes:

Green Burial 101 (2-3pm) A one-hour overview of natural burial practices, covering the environmental benefits, legal considerations, and growing movement toward sustainable end-of-life choices. Learn how green burial differs from conventional methods and why more individuals are opting for this natural return to the earth. This session is led by Amy Cunningham, a licensed New York State Funeral Director and owner of Fitting Tribute Funeral Services.

The Art of Shrouding ( 3–4pm) Learn traditional techniques for body shrouding with fabric and natural materials. This workshop explores the beauty and care involved in preparing a body for burial without embalming or synthetic barriers.

Casket Weaving Demonstration (4-5pm) Get a feel for the artistry and symbolism behind hand-woven caskets as you try your hand at basic weaving techniques used in creating biodegradable coffins and burial vessels. This session is led by Alix Strauss, author of The Joy of Funerals, and coffin weaver Sarah Lasswell. You can discover more about their collaboration in Oprah Magazine.

Free. Registration required. Please consider a $10 donation to the Green-Wood Historic Fund so that we can continue to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

BEFORE RESERVING YOUR SPOT, PLEASE NOTE:

Where To Go: This program will take place at the Modern Chapel near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

Capacity: Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration does not guarantee entry.

Accessibility & Safety: The Modern Chapel is not fully ADA compliant; however, accommodations for entrance can be made for visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Before reserving tickets, we encourage visitors to contact our staff with any questions regarding accommodations and accessibility at 718-210-3080, ext. 1, or events@green-wood.com.

Cemetery Scavenger Hunt
2025-10-26 14:15 - 16:15
In Partnership with Lauren Seeley and Death Project Manager

We are pleased to announce that this year, we are official partners of TalkDeath’s 5th Annual 2025 Halloween Cemetery Scavenger Hunt.

Taking place every Halloween weekend, TalkDeath’s Cemetery Scavenger Hunt is an annual event designed to bring together communities, families, cemetery lovers, and history enthusiasts. TalkDeath DFFs (Death Friends Forever) are encouraged to visit their local cemeteries and search for monuments, headstones, and symbols that match the provided clues shared on Instagram and TalkDeath.com.

Price: Free.

In-Person Event(see details below)

Participants have fun while learning about the history of their local cemetery, significant figures, and the art and architecture of different graves and eras. The first three parties to find all of the clues win prizes donated by artisans, craft makers, collectives, and more!

We recommend arriving at the Cemetery no later than 2:15pm to ensure you’re present once the clues are announced. The winners will be announced at 4:15pm!

For further instructions, more information, and how to receive clues for the hunt, visit their site here.

Day of the Dead Family Celebration
2025-11-01 16:00 - 19:00
Discover the rich history and traditions associated with the holiday Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) through family-friendly crafts, performances, music, activities, and food.

Celebrated throughout Latin America from October 31st to November 2nd, this holiday is a time for family and friends to commemorate departed loved ones through prayer, altars, music, and dance.

Please consider a $10 donation to Green-Wood when registering. Your donation will help ensure that we can continue to provide engaging family programs at little or no cost to the public.

Price: Free. Registration recommended to receive updates about the event. Walk-ins are welcome.

Get Tickets

In-Person Event(see details below)

BEFORE Registering, PLEASE NOTE:

Where to go: The event takes place near the Historic Chapel, located just a short distance from the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street).

No paper or e-tickets will be necessary. Attendees will not be checked in; registration is to gauge attendance.

For Your Comfort and Safety: The 5-minute walk to the Historic Chapel includes uneven terrain and stairs. We strongly encourage attendees to wear suitable footwear. A vehicle will be available to transport those who need assistance getting to the site.

A Little More About Safety: Follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

Feeling Sick? Stay home if you are feeling sick or running a fever.

Inclement Weather Policy: We monitor the weather throughout the day for the best chance of proceeding with the event and will not make a final decision until at least 3 hours before the start time. Cancellations will be announced via Eventbrite email blasts, so check your email and spam folders.

Checking in: Please note that registration for this event is recommended but not required. Names will not be checked.

Event Concessions: Food and drink will be available for purchase only.

Event Activities: This event will feature activities and crafts as well as performances. Activities and crafts will run until supplies run out or until performances start, whichever comes first.

Celebración familiar del Día de Muertos

viernes, 1 de noviembre de 202516:00 – 19:00

Descubra la historia y tradiciones ricas asociadas con la festividad del Día de Muertos a través de artesanías, espectáculos, música, actividades y comida para toda la familia.

Celebrada en toda América Latina del 31 de octubre al 2 de noviembre, esta festividad es un momento para que familiares y amigos conmemoren a sus seres queridos fallecidos a través de oraciones, altares, música y danza.

Precio: Gratis. Se recomienda registrarse para recibir actualizaciones sobre el evento. Las personas sin cita previa son bienvenidas. Por favor, considere una donación de $10 a Green-Wood al registrarse. Su donación ayudará a garantizar que podamos continuar brindando atractivos programas familiares a bajo costo o sin costo alguno para el público.

ANTES DE REGISTRARSE, TENGA EN CUENTA:

Dónde ir: El evento se lleva a cabo cerca de la Capilla Histórica, ubicada a poca distancia de la Entrada Principal en la Quinta Avenida y la Calle 25 (Calle 25, 500).

Para su seguridad: Partes de este evento se desarrollarán sobre terreno con césped y colinas. Se recomienda encarecidamente a los asistentes usar calzado adecuado.

Más información sobre seguridad: Siga TODAS las instrucciones y recomendaciones del personal y los embajadores del Cementerio.

Política sobre mal tiempo: Monitoreamos el clima durante todo el día para optimizar las posibilidades de continuar con el evento y no tomaremos una decisión final hasta al menos 3 horas antes de la hora de inicio. Las cancelaciones se anunciarán mediante correos electrónicos masivos de Eventbrite, así que revise su correo electrónico y carpeta de correo no deseado.

Registro: Tenga en cuenta que se recomienda registrarse para este evento, pero no es obligatorio. No se verificarán los nombres. Concesiones del evento: Solo se podrán comprar comida y bebida.

Actividades del evento: Este evento incluirá actividades, manualidades y presentaciones. Las actividades y manualidades estarán disponibles hasta agotar existencias o hasta que comiencen las presentaciones, lo que ocurra primero.

Open Studios: 2024–2025 Artists in Residence
2025-11-22 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-23 11:00 - 16:00
Courtesy of the artist

Green-Wood’s current Artists in Residence, the duo Shanzhai Lyric, invite the public to step inside their studio space and get a behind-the-scenes look at their ongoing research on the community of monk parakeets, or Quaker parrots, that call Gothic Arch home. Visitors will encounter readings, writings, recordings, and other materials that inform their residency project, offering insight into how the artists are weaving the Cemetery’s natural and cultural landscape into their creative process.

Price: Free. No registration required.

In-Person Event(see details below)

Each year, one artist (or collective) in the visual and/or performing arts is awarded an honorarium and onsite studio space to develop a project inspired by Green-Wood. Now in its fourth year, the program welcomes Shanzhai Lyric, a collaborative initiative led by Ming Lin and Alex Tatarsky. Known for their poetic inquiry into mimicry and translation, their residency at Green-Wood focuses on the Cemetery’s colony of monk parakeets—celebrated for their unique place in the city’s ecosystem and as the original mimicry artists.

Free. Registration is not required—just stop by!

The Open Studio weekend will take place in the Fort Hamilton Gatehouse, located at Fort Hamilton Parkway and Micieli Place, easily accessible on the F and G trains at the Fort Hamilton Station.
