The Philadelphia Death and Arts Festival 2025 takes place at Laurel Hill West and Laurel Hill East. Both cemeteries have paved pathways that are easy to follow. There are also winding grass and sidewalk paths which can be uneven at times. Signs will be available at both sites to help with navigation and parking. 

Laurel Hill West: 340 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Public Transportation: 

• The main entrance to Laurel Hill West is about a 20 minute walk from the Route 44 stop at City Av & Decker Blvd. 

• The front entrance is about a 20 minute walk from the Route 27 stop at Ridge Av & Osborn St - MBNS. 

Parking:

• Free parking is available at the Conservatory.Accessible parking spaces are reserved in the Conservatory lot.

• Accessible load in/out spots are available in front of the Conversatory marked with signs.

Laurel Hill East: Main Entrance: 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19132

Public Transportation: 

• SEPTA bus Route 61, the Ridge Avenue Line, in Center City at any stop on 9th Street between Walnut and Arch, and get off at Clearfield Street across from the Cemetery Gatehouse

• Allegheny bus, Route 60, which ends at Ridge Avenue; the Cemetery Gatehouse is a one-block walk southward.

• Closest train stop is the North Philadelphia or Susquehanna Dauphin stop.

Parking: 

• Parking inside of the Laurel Hill East is temporarily suspended due to construction. 

• Free parking is available in the lots across the street from the main entrance, where accessible parking spaces are reserved. 

• Free street parking is available on Ridge Avenue (but please note this is a busy street without a crosswalk) and in the surrounding neighborhood, including on West Indiana Avenue, Shedwick Street, and 35th Street.

Accessible Van: There is an accessible (4-5 person) van leaving from the carport at Laurel Hill West and driving to the gatehouse at the main entrance at Laurel Hill East on a continuous loop. It takes an estimated 30-40 minutes to make the full loop from Laurel Hill West to Laurel Hill East. Please wait for the van at either drop off spot. 

Accessible Shuttle: An accessible golf cart shuttle is available at both sites for walking performances/workshops, and transit between activity areas in the cemetery. The shuttle has a small step up to the car. Request shuttle at registration tables.

There are many indoor and outdoor activities at the festival.

In case of mild-to-moderate rain, all activities will continue as normal. We will have ponchos for guests, and canopies to cover outdoor activities.

If the weather becomes unsafe, we will cancel events as needed 24 hours before they are scheduled. We will post on instagram and email anyone who has a ticket.

Accessibility Resource Tents: are the white pop-up tents located in the back parking lot at Laurel Hill West and the receiving vault at Laurel Hill East. Go to these tents to get connected with our access volunteers and free access materials:

• Adaptive writing devices 

• Earplugs/noise-cancelling headphones 

• Folding chairs, extra-wide seating, and cushions

• KN-9 masks and rapid Covid-19 tests 

• Large print programs with audio description recording

• Magnifying glasses and clip lights for transcripts 

• Mobility or sighted guides (when available!) 

• Printed transcripts for events (when possible)

• Request shuttle services or accessible van

• Mobility aids walkers, wheelchairs, and canes (when available)

• Stim toys

• Sunscreen, bug spray, and plastic ponchos

• Water

ASL interpretation: 

• Eiko Otake presentation - May 31st at 8:30pm

• Imagining the Future of Dying and Deathcare -  June 1st at 6:30pm

• Eiko and DonChristine performance + conversations -  June 1st at 2pm

• Viewing Hours by mayfield brooks - June 1st ** exact timing TBA

Climate Plan

• The Conservatory at Laurel Hill West has Air Conditioning and will have seats available to rest in at all times.  

• Limited plastic ponchos will be available for attendees at both sites in case of rain. 

• Sunscreen and bug/tick spray will be available at our resource tables.

COVID-19

• N-95/KN-95 masks and rapid tests at our accessibility resource and registration tables. 

• HEPA air filter in the Conservatory and “green house” room. The HEPA filter is donated by The People’s Filter Philadelphia. 

• Masks are optional, though suggested, for indoor performances and workshops.

Mobility:

• Accessible restrooms are available at both event sites. 

• Any events where audiences may be asked to walk are indicated as “walking” in the program and this Know Before You Go. 

• Folding chairs and extra-wide seating will be available at every performance, workshop, and reflection space. Cushions are available for chairs. 

• Limited wheelchairs, walkers, and canes are available for use at the resources table.  

• Volunteers available with mobility aids, seating and access materials for walking events.  

• Our team has done our best to make each event site accessible to those with limited mobility.

Reflection Spaces: Our Reflection Spaces are living installations where festival attendees can reflect, process, and connect with supportive resources between and during performances and workshops at Philadelphia Death and Arts Festival. We know that festival-going is a big physical and mental commitment and hope you can use these spaces to be with yourself, with others, and with the beyond, in silence, in song, in celebration. To learn more about our reflection spaces CLICK HERE.

Laurel Hill West 

Performances at Laurel Hill West will largely take place at The Conservatory and the Nature Sanctuary 

The Conservatory is located inside the cemetery, about a 3-minute drive (or 15-minute walk) from the main entrance. Wayfinding signs lead from the main entrance to the Conservatory. Once parked, PDAF staff will welcome and orient you to the festival at our registration table, located in the carport on the left side of the building. You will enter the building from the back. No entrance through the front door will be permitted.

The Conservatory is a large, climate-controlled room connected to the “green house” room which is smaller and less climate-controlled. An accessible, curb-cut entrance to the conservatory is located near the carport and registration table.

Nature’s Sanctuary is about a 10-minute walk from the conservatory or a short ride on an accessible shuttle. Wayfinding signs mark the pathway from the Conservatory to Nature’s Sanctuary. Nature’s Sanctuary is a green burial site garden with fine-gravel pathways, some uneven grassy pathways and grassy open areas.

Laurel Hill East

Performances at Laurel Hill East will largely take place at the Receiving Vault and an outdoor tent about a 15-minute walk and from the main gatehouse. Since parking is near the gatehouse, an accessible shuttle is available to those who need a ride from the main gatehouse to the main event area.

Select performances and workshops will take place amongst the tombstones in the grass, and will require brief walking and standing on uneven grassy terrain.