This October, Olney Cemetery will come alive for the fifth annual Quiet Neighbors living history event.
“We started as a nice outdoor walk in the clear October air, admiring our historic cemetery while hearing the tales of our neighbors of long-ago Pendleton,” said Quiet Neighbors committee chair Heather Culley. “This year, we are featuring new neighbors, and new stories of old times.”
Now a Pendleton tradition, Quiet Neighbors: Historic Olney Cemetery Tour features costumed performers portraying historic figures laid to rest at Olney Cemetery. Visitors follow a guide through the cemetery to meet these “neighbors” and hear their stories.
Each year’s tour offers a mix of returning favorites and newly researched stories, chosen based on available performers and the work of a volunteer committee. Costumes are created by volunteers or borrowed from the Umatilla County Historical Society.
The event is free, but donations will be accepted. Those attending the event should dress for the weather and be prepared to walk approximately one mile.
This year’s Quiet Neighbors: Historic Olney Cemetery Tour is Saturday, Oct. 4, at Olney Cemetery, 865 Tutuilla Road, Pendleton. Tours begin near the Olney Abbey Mausoleum at 1 p.m. and leave every 20 minutes. The final tour will leave at 5:40 p.m. No reservations required.
Quiet Neighbors is organized by Olney Cemetery staff and a volunteer committee. For more information, visit the Quiet Neighbors Facebook event page.
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About Olney Cemetery: Managed by the City of Pendleton and Pendleton Parks and Recreation, Olney Cemetery covers approximately 50 acres in southwest Pendleton and is listed by the State of Oregon as a historic cemetery. The cemetery boasts the only tree-canopied street in Pendleton, enticing visitors to take a quiet stroll and share a glimpse of the surrounding area's history. There are approximately 17,000 people interred here, but with approximately 70,000 graves, there are still many available for purchase.
Quiet Neighbors: Historic Olney Cemetery Tour event details
When: 1–6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4
Where: Olney Cemetery, 865 Tutuilla Road, Pendleton
Admission: Free (donations accepted)
Tours: Depart every 20 minutes from the Mausoleum; final tour at 5:40 p.m.
- Sept. 18, 2025