Advance tickets are required; no on-site purchase of tickets.
The cemetery also hosts a series of September and October special events.
2026 Daytime Guided Tours
• The Original Knickerbocker: Washington Irving & The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Meet the father of the American short story on this one-hour tour! Learn all about Washington Irving, his impact on American Literature and the enduring appeal of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", which recently celebrated its Bicentennial. Best of all, you'll find out why Irving is called the Original Knickerbocker! 2026 Dates: Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. May through September. October & November dates will be posted in early September.
• Classic Daytime Tour. Soak up the beauty of this 175-year old cemetery while your guide regales you with stories of the fascinating people resting here in peace. This two-hour daytime walk pays homage to Washington Irving before heading north to visit the final resting places of two-term Chicago Mayor Walter Gurnee, steel titan Andrew Carnegie, oilman William Rockefeller, and much more. Admire beautiful art, architecture and cool cemetery symbolism along the way. This tour gives a great overview of why Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is so famous. 2026 Dates: Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. May through September. October & November dates will be posted in early September.
For tickets: http://sleepyhollowcemetery.org/walking-tours/
2026 Evening Lantern Tours
• Classic Evening Lantern Tour. Step back in time and explore the cemetery by kerosene lantern light! This two-hour evening tour gives you a great overview of why Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is so famous. You’ll visit titans of industry like Andrew Carnegie and William Rockefeller, meet Washington Irving whose famous short story gave our village its very name, see the resting place of two-term Chicago Mayor Walter Gurnee, and much more. Along the way, admire beautiful art, architecture and cool cemetery symbolism. 2025 Dates: Saturday nights from May through the summer. In June because of The Hill: Stories From Spoon River, only the 20th and 27th. In September, Friday and Saturday evenings. Start times vary due to sunset. October & November dates will be posted in early September.
For tickets: http://sleepyhollowcemetery.org/walking-tours/
Murder & Mayhem
The true stories on this two-hour lantern tour are so grim, you just might have nightmares!
Curious to learn about a family that lost 5 children one terrible afternoon, or a horrific murder that led police on a multi-state chase? Maybe you’d like to hear about a son who shot his father before turning the gun on himself, and a daughter who poisoned her mother? If so, then this is the tour for you!
Murder and Mayhem is back and better than ever with a new route - visit a few old favorites and leave with new ones! The truth is always stranger than fiction.
Subject matter is not suitable for children under 18. For the enjoyment of all tour goers, please respect this policy.
2026 Dates: May 9th and 23rd from 8:00-10:00 p.m. More dates will be posted soon.
For tickets: http://sleepyhollowcemetery.org/walking-tours/
The Good, the Bad and the Unusual!
Join Sara Mascia and Tara Van Tassell from our local historical society as they dish about several intriguing locals as well as some of our world- famous inhabitants. You can guess who will be good, bad, or unusual! Among the many locals are poet and eccentric Minna Irving, chocolatier William Wallace, and popular neighbor “Uncle” Washington Irving. They will also bring guests to visit some of the individuals who became locals by making Sleepy Hollow their final resting place, such as wealthy industrialist Andrew Carnegie, labor leader Samuel Gompers, a crop of Alexander Hamiltons, and many others all by the light of kerosene lanterns.
2026 Dates: Will be posted closer to the fall.
For tickets: http://sleepyhollowcemetery.org/walking-tours/