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.”…