FAQs and Maps

Event Map

 Ticketing & Admission

  • Friends of Mount Auburn Members will receive a 10% discount on two Adult tickets. FOMAC Members should have received an email with the discount code in September. If you are a new Member, please reach out to friends@mountauburn.org to receive the discount code. Youths between the ages of 2 and 12 are $5 each, and children under 2 are free and don’t need to register. All youth must be accompanied by an adult. Learn more about becoming a FOMAC Member.

  • No, we cannot accommodate exchanges. Please ensure that you have carefully selected your preferred date and time before completing your transaction.

  • Tickets are non-refundable. Orders will only be refunded if Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel the event due to weather.

  • SOLSTICE is a self-guided experience, but there will be Event Staff stationed throughout the entire event area to help direct you.

  • This year, in lieu of the President's Reception and Private Event tents, we're introducing the Elevated Ticket Experience, available for $85. This includes food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, an indoor heated space, private restroom, free parking, and more!

  • The Elevated Ticket Experience is an $85 ticket that provides guests with an enhanced SOLSTICE experience, including complimentary parking, curated food and beverage offerings, two drink tickets, access to a heated indoor space, a private restrooms, and additional amenities. Guests may choose from one of three available ETE time slots: 5:30 PM, 7:00 PM, or 8:30 PM.

  • If we must cancel due to weather, guests will be notified via email by 12PM on the day of. All orders will be refunded in the event of a cancellation. 

  • We ask that attendees do their best to arrive within the 30-minute window of their timed ticket entry so that we can better control parking, check-in, and event flow (e.g. if your ticket is for 5:30pm-6:00pm, check-in should be no earlier than 5:30pm and no later than 6:00pm). 

  • There is no need to print your tickets. Tickets will be scanned on your smart phone. Please try to have your tickets pulled up before you arrive at the Check-In tent. If you are having trouble finding your tickets, search for “Order Confirmation for SOLSTICE."

  • There will be a Check-In tent on just past the entry gate at the intersection of Lawn and Elm for guests parking in our satellite lot. There will also be a Check-In tent on Central and Garden for rideshare drop-offs, accessibility parking, and those who have purchased the Elevated Ticket Experience. After having your tickets scanned at a Check-In tent, we recommend starting in Story Chapel.

  • On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the last entry will be 8:30pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, the last entry will be at 9:00pm. On Sundays, the last entry will be at 8:00pm. Guests are welcome to enjoy the experience until one hour after the last timed entry.

  • Yes! Please keep an eye on your email for additional information as the event nears.

  • No, tickets may only be purchased online. If you show up without a ticket, you will be turned away.

Amenities & Accessibility

  • No. The Cemetery closes to visitors at 5:00pm in December. Only SOLSTICE ticket holders may enter after hours (and only at their designated ticket time). SOLSTICE attendees must stay on the designated route and are not permitted to go beyond the event area. For the safety of everyone, guests must follow all instructions and guidance from Event Staff. 

  • While we are not requiring guests to move through the event in a specific time frame, we anticipate it taking 60-90 minutes for guests to get the full experience of SOLSTICE.

  • Parking is $10 and available at a satellite lot located at 625 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge. This lot is just a 5-10 minute walk from the front gates (comparable to the walking time of our on-site parking used in previous years). Please note: we are only allowing attendees with accessibility concerns park onsite for this year. Those who have purchased the Elevated Ticket will still park in the satellite lot. We will have a robust parking staff helping to coordinate parking for all guests. When you arrive, an attendant will direct you to available parking. If you need accessible parking, please come to the front gate of the Cemetery (580 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge) and let the attendant know as soon as you arrive so they can direct you to the appropriate space. While there will be lighting on and off site, you may still wish to bring a flashlight to get to and from your car. Please refer to the Parking Map for more details.

  • Yes, parking will cost $10 this year. Parking fees will be collected onsite.

    Parking is free for members and included in the price of the Elevated Ticket Experience. if you wish to become a member, please follow this Membership Link

  • The event route will stay on paved roads, and both Chapels are accessible. The route is just under a mile, which includes the distance from the satellite parking area, and does include a few steep grades. Route modifications can be made, if needed. Please contact us for additional questions or to request accommodations.

  • Unfortunately, SOLSTICE is not designed to be experienced from a vehicle. For the safety of all guests, no vehicles will be allowed to enter the event area.

  • Yes! There will be sweet and salty treats and warm drinks available for purchase from Ovenbird Cafe in our Hospitality area located on Lawn Ave by Asa Gray Garden. There will be no public sale of alcohol for this year's event, but there are alcoholic drinks included (2 drink tix) with the purchase of the Elevated Ticket Experience ($85).

  • Yes, accessible restrooms will be available for guests at Story Chapel and Bigelow Chapel. There will also be porta potties available at the Hospitality area.

  • Each guest (or couple) will be offered one small unlit candle in a glass votive upon entering Bigelow Chapel. An Event Staff member will light your candle before you place the candle in a designated area of the Chapel. Please note: guests are not permitted to light their own candle, and additional candles may not be purchased or reserved prior to/during the event.

  • We strongly encourage attendees to dress warmly and wear suitable footwear as SOLSTICE is, primarily, an outdoor event.

  • Please silence your phones and turn off your flash for this experience. You may take photos and videos of the outdoor artworks. While photos are allowed inside the Chapels, we ask that guests do their best to do so quietly so as not to disturb others.

For additional questions, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

View the SOLSTICE 2024 Event Guide

Event Guide - English
Event Guide - Spanish