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"Where History Comes Alive..."
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127-15 Kew Gardens Road
Kew Gardens, New York,11415
Friends Organization
Est. Nov. 30, 2005
(347) 878-6613
Annual Events and Traditions at
Maple Grove
Spirits Alive | Began May 2005
Mr. C. Ballenas, a teacher at the school, created a social studies program called the Historical Wax Museum project. He wanted the youth of today to meet the challenges of the future by remembering the roots of the past, and sought to bring it to the entire community. With the help of Linda Mayo Perez, former president of Maple Grove, a unique community event called Celebrating the Living Spirit was created in 2004.
In 2005 the name of the event was changed to Spirits Alive. Spirits Alive has become a popular community event, and we are delighted to continue this annual tradition.
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Murder Mystery Dinner | Began
October/November 2013
The Maple Grove Murder Mystery was born at Maple Grove Cemetery from a simple but daring idea: to have a mystery dinner at a unique setting, a cemetery. We believed that this was the first time anywhere such an event had been conceived within a cemetery setting.
From the beginning, it was decided that nothing about the experience would be borrowed or secondhand. Each script was original, inspired by the lives and legends of notable denizens resting at Maple Grove. With a cemetery then approaching its 150th year, the writers were gifted a rare luxury, time itself. This allowed mysteries to unfold across eras, such as a Victorian Egyptian Mummy Mystery, a Day at the Horse Races, a crackling Radio Mystery, a Civil War Mystery, etc., and more, each steeped in the customs and curiosities of its age.
What followed was a lively exchange between audience and actors: questions posed, clues revealed, suspicions stirred. Together, the living and the long departed unraveled the tale, until at last the mystery was solved.
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Día de Los Muertos | Began November 2023
Commemorating the beautiful Hispanic community in New York City, Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated at Maple Grove. Fresh marigolds, displays of pan, and pictures dedicated to loved ones are shown throughout the month of November.
A Mariachi band and traditional Mexican folk dancers perform at the Center to celebrate life and memorialize loved ones.
Tea Parties | Began 2011
Our Tea events celebrate Maple Grove's historical connections from the time the cemetery was founded in 1875. Each Tea features a different theme relating to an era or historical location such as the Edwardian Tea, 1950s Tea or the Ellis Island Tea. We hope you enjoy this photo collection from these past Tea events from 2011 to the present.
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