Picnics, Movies & Graveyards

Summer – warm sunshine, sparkling pools and picnics in the park cemetery while watching a movie. Really, this happens. Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, CA, the final resting place of numerous Hollywood stars (Douglas Fairbanks, Jayne Mansfield), shows movies on the lawn on a regular basis. Tickets are $10 and if you want a good spot it’s best to arrive early. This weekend they’re showing ‘The Terminator’ at 8:30pm.

What better way to spend a pleasant summer evening? Just pack a picnic basket, grab some blankets and lay down in a graveyard. I’ve never watched a movie in a cemetery but I think it’s a great idea. You get to enjoy the fresh air, watch the sunset, hang out with family/friends all while enjoying the best Hollywood has to offer.

And then there’s the atmosphere of a cemetery at night. I’m sure after the movie a few dare-devil types venture deep into the cemetery grounds to try and scare up some ‘paranormal activity.’ In fact, I bet I could find some grainy video of just such antics on YouTube if I searched hard enough. But I digress…

The practice of communing in cemeteries isn’t new. In the 1800’s, families would spend Sunday afternoons in the graveyard with their loved ones, both dead and alive. It was considered a good way to reconnect with those who had passed on. You won’t see too many get-togethers at the family plot these days however. Life is different and most people rarely visit the cemetery unless it’s Memorial Day. But as the popularity of the movie screenings at Hollywood Forever Cemetery shows, you can have good times in the graveyard. Call your local cemetery today and ask them where the best spot is to picnic. You might be surprised at the answer.