The TalkDeath Cemetery Scavenger Hunt encourages you to appreciate and learn about local cemeteries and their histories inviting community members to visit cemeteries, reduce death stigma and demonstrating that cemeteries can be spaces for the living. You’ll learn about memorial iconography and history, connect with your community, spend time with friends and loved ones, and reflect on your own mortality.

This year’s Chicago’s Cemetery Scavenger Hunt will be on Sunday, October 1:30pm and is hosted by:

• Shelby Forsythia, grief coach, podcaster, and author of Permission to Grieve, Your Grief, Your Way, and forthcoming Of Course I’m Here Right Now

• Angel Luna of Death and Friends, the #1 Comedy, Death, History podcast by two comedians

• Grace Robbins of Coimetromania, a Chicago-based cemetery education and events platform

• Jensen Allen, Director of Graceland Cemetery and Arboretum

At the start time, TalkDeath will share a list of clues to find on Instagram and its website. You have 45 minutes to find and photograph as many of the clues as you can before submitting your findings on and online form. Winners are announced 45 minutes after clues are due!

Clues include headstone iconography, items often found in cemeteries, names, or dates. TalkDeath tries to keep the clues inclusive of a wide variety of locations and cultural backgrounds, so it cannot guarantee that every cemetery will have every clue.

Prizes will be awarded to:

• Whoever finds 13 clues first

• The highest number of clues found

• Accolades such as most creative photography

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

TalkDeath merch and fun, spooky items will be available for purchase onsite. Proceeds benefit the Black Cemetery Network.

Not in Chicago? Find a Cemetery Scavenger Hunt near you (U.S. only).