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Museum Announces 30th Annual Evergreen Cemetery Walk to be Grand Finale
October 12 @ 11:00 am - October 13 @ 5:00 pm
Bloomington, IL – This October, actors will take their spots at center grave for the grand finale of the Evergreen Cemetery Walk. An annual tradition for the last three decades, “Cem Walk” brings local history to life. The award-winning program is a collaboration between the McLean County Museum of History, Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, and Illinois Voices Theatre-Echoes.
What began in 1995 as a single Saturday event with two school days of performances quickly blossomed into a full-fledged historical theater event. Annually, over 3,000 people attend its educational performances across eight days each year. More than 95,000 people (the majority being middle school students) have experienced the Walk in person and virtually over the past 30 years.
The Museum’s Senior Director of Education, Candace Summers, has led the Walk for the last 17 years. “Rising costs, diminishing resources, actor availability, and changing audience needs have led us to the difficult decision that this year’s Evergreen Cemetery Walk will be the last,” Summers said.
The Museum is not alone in facing these challenges. Illinois Voices Theatre-Echoes will disband after this season for similar reasons. Artistic Director Susan Thetard says “I am sad, but remain optimistic that something new and wonderful will evolve. In my seven years as producer, I have worked with amazing talent in directing, performing, tech, and organizational volunteers. The staff at the Museum is inspirational. That is the sad part – not working with these kind, caring, and dedicated people.”
Museum Executive Director Julie Emig emphasizes that, above all, the Museum is committed to preserving, educating, and collaborating in sharing the diverse stories of the people of McLean County. “While this is the end of the Cemetery Walk, it is merely the beginning of new, innovative ways for the public to engage with local history and the Museum,” Emig said.
The 30th and Final Evergreen Cemetery Walk will be on October 5-6 & 12-13, 2024. Public performances are on Saturdays and Sundays, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Museum or Evergreen Memorial Cemetery and online at mchistory.org.
To learn more about the characters featured in this year’s Grand Finale, please click here.