A four-day festival of death, and life
When: 22nd – 25th February 2018
Where: Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bath Road, Bristol BS4 3EW
£: Ticket prices vary, depending on the event. Some events are free
What is it?
Arnos Vale Cemetery in Bristol will be tackling the tricky subject of death, with a four-day festival of talks, walks, theatre and workshops. Life, Death (and the Rest) will take place from Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th February with events including a gruesome tour, a talk on human remains and even a death disco.
The festival begins on the Thursday with the Morbid Curiosity Night Tour, where participants will be able to walk around the graveyard and find out how people died. Bring a torch and be prepared to hear some gruesome stories. Also on the Thursday, Dr Phil Hammond will be discussing life and death (but mainly death).
On the Friday morning of the festival, there will be a Living and Dying Mindful Photography Workshop and a talk by Mortuary Technician Carla Valentine on our relationship with human remains. The Friday night will see a Death Disco taking place in a Victorian mortuary chapel, with guests invited to contribute to the playlist.
Also on the Friday, there will be a free art and music installation by Jimmy Galvin in the Anglican Chapel.
Carla Valentine discusses human remains (Photo: Teri Pengilley)
Saturday will see yet more quirky death-themed events taking place, with a talk on memorial tattoos by Dr John Troyer and a fun look at funerals with funeral celebrant Paul Kefford.
Also on the Saturday, the Poetry Machine will be creating bespoke poems for visitors and The Death Cafe will be offering cake and discussions about death. There’ll also be a show about bereavement for children with The Many Doors of Frank Feelbad.
On the final day, the festival will see events including a Natural Burial Woodland Tour, a chance to discuss death over a candlelit dinner, and The Death Show, a show about – yes, you’ve guessed it – death.
More info: arnosvale.org.uk/life-death-rest