Events

Special Events These events are coordinated by Friends of Mount Bethel Cemetery, a 501 (c) 3.

          Details are still being finalized, but following is a list of our anticipated events. More details will be shared as they become available. For up to the minute information call Kathleen Lutz at 717-684-7841.,

Wreaths Across America  - Complete

           Saturday, December 14, 2019 at Noon. Free. At the cemetery. Mount Bethel Cemetery participates in this national program to honor veterans. Wreaths are sponsored by local individuals and organizations through Wreaths Across America.  A ceremony, which begins at noon, is followed by placement of wreaths on identified veteran graves by community volunteers and wreath sponsors. Support Mount Bethel Cemetery by purchasing a wreath on the Wreaths Across America website.

A Spice of Life at Mt. Bethel  CANCELLED due to stay at home order

Friday April 24, 2020, 5:00pm to 8:00pm and Sunday April 26, 2020 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Free. Art exhibit by artist and educator Joanna Spicer. At Mount Bethel Cemetery, 700 Locust St., Columbia, Pa 17512 

Professional Car Show - The Last Ride and Macabre Creations  CANCELLED due to stay at home order

Saturday, May 16, 2020, 11:00am to 3:00pm. Free. Rain Date: Sunday May 17, 2020. Featuring vehicles used in funerals. Cemetery tours available. Contact Jane Moore at 717-575-9760 for more information. At Mount Bethel Cemetery, 700 Locust St., Columbia, Pa 17512

Fete en Noir

Friday, September 11, 2020, 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Rain date: Saturday, September 12, 2020. At Mount Bethel Cemetery, 700 Locust St., Columbia, Pa 17512. Enjoy an evening with your friends for an outdoor picnic. Dress in black if possible. Music for listening or dancing is included in the $15 per person fee. Reservations may be made by emailing Claire Storm at astorm495@comcast.net or by calling Jane Moore at 717-575-9760. 

Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead Celebration)

Sunday, November 1, 2020. 3:00pm to 5:00pm. At Perfect Settings, 2nd and Locust Sts in Columbia, Pa 17512. Ethnic food,  music, an ofrenda and luminaries in honor of your loved ones. This is a ticketed event and fundraiser for Mt. Bethel Cemetery. 

Wreaths Across America

Sunday, December 19, 2020, 12:00pm. Free. At the cemetery. Mount Bethel Cemetery participates in this national program to honor veterans. Wreaths are sponsored by local individuals and organizations through Wreaths Across America.  A ceremony, which begins at noon, is followed by placement of wreaths on identified veteran graves by community volunteers and wreath sponsors. Support Mount Bethel Cemetery by purchasing a wreath on the Wreaths Across America website. To sponsor a wreath visit https://wreathsacrossamerica.org. Use Group ID:PA0358P and location ID: PA MBCC.

 Maintenance Events

Spring Cleanup - 2020 - No Spring cleanup is scheduled as yet. 

• Each spring a group of volunteers give their time and effort to clean up the cemetery of the debris of winter. They rake up leaves, limbs and twigs, and remove decorations from the graves. During the spring, summer and fall a group of adult volunteers gather each month to maintain the Cemetery. They repair and re-set markers, and remove leaves and other debris.
• Volunteers are always welcome. If you want to become a participant in these events, please call the cemetery Superintendent Ron Mable at 717-285-2332.

Fall Cleanup - 2019 - December 7, 2019.  Bring your leaf rakes and gloves to help remove all the leaves that will be on the ground.  Completed. 

 Ongoing Maintenance: Grave markers that have fallen down continue to be reerected with volunteer labor. This activity will restart in the Spring. We had a great year in 2019 with our experienced helpers. Part way through the year the team decided to reset stones two times a month instead of just once a month. Becasuse of this, we are making better progress toward our goal of getting all of the fallen and tilting stones standing upright. We meet every second and fourth Thursdays at the cemetery from 8:00am till noon. Everyone is welcome to participate. A startup date for Spring will be announced later. To volunteer call Superintendent Ron Mable at 717-285-2332. 

 Board Meetings

         Board of Directors meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at noon at the cemetery cottage. 

         Next meeting is Wednesday May 13, 2020   CANCELLED due to stay at home order

There will be no meeting in January.