Lantern Tour tickets go on sale soon

Sacramento's Historic City Cemetery hosts its annual Lantern Tour on four nights in October. (Photo: Debbie Arrington)

Get ready to buy yours for this wildly popular pre-Halloween tradition

It’s the hottest tour ticket in Sacramento and annually sells out in hours.

And the countdown has just begun.

Tickets for the Historic City Cemetery’s 2019 Lantern Tour will go on sale Sunday, Sept. 1 at midnight.

“Program your phone! Mark your calendar!” said tour organizers in their official announcement Monday. “Tickets for our ever-popular Lantern Tours go on sale at midnight on September 1. Last year, they were gone by noon, so set your alarm and don’t hit the snooze button!!!”

Or just stay up late – which may be appropriate for a tour devoted to things that go bump in the night.

This year’s tour is set for four nights spread over two pre-Halloween weekends: Oct. 18 and 19 and Oct. 25 and 26. By lantern light, docents garbed in Victorian attire lead guests through Sacramento’s famous cemetery, the resting place of pioneers, city builders, civic leaders and more. Along the way, guests encounter many “residents” who retell their unique chapters in Sacramento history. It’s a spectacle not to be missed.

Tickets are $40 plus handling fees and will be available online at https://lanterntours2019.brownpapertickets.com.

The cemetery is located at 1000 Broadway, Sacramento. Free parking is available on surrounding streets.

For more details: www.historicoldcitycemetery.org.

- Debbie Arrington