Dozens show up for Metro's first Halloween cemetery cleanup

Dozens of volunteers gathered at Columbia Pioneer Cemetery on Halloween morning, October 31, to scrub headstones and clear debris. This was the first time Metro held its annual cemetery cleanup event on the holiday.

The participants worked on the 2.5-acre site in Portland's Parkrose neighborhood. The cemetery sits near the busy intersection of Sandy Boulevard and Interstate 5. Volunteers used tools including butter knives, chopsticks, brushes, and rags to remove lichen and mud from the grave markers.

Jorden Corona, who expressed a personal interest in historic burial plots, attended the event. He stated that he had wanted to learn how to maintain tombs for some time but worried about making mistakes. Corona said he spends considerable time in cemeteries because he finds them peaceful places.

Jessica Rojas, a lead for the community education and stewardship team at Metro, provided historical context for the site. The cemetery opened in 1877 and contains the remains of early European settlers who did not survive the Oregon Trail. Rojas noted that Sandy Boulevard follows the original path walked by Native Americans between the Willamette and Sandy rivers.

Rojas explained that Metro manages 14 historic cemeteries across Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties. The organization aims to normalize the act of caring for deceased relatives and community members. Some monuments in the cemetery are over 100 years old, while others were installed as recently as last year.

The event series began about four years ago with only a few attendees. Rojas reported that the turnout has grown to dozens of people for this Halloween edition. Metro stated that maintaining the appearance of the cemeteries is important for families visiting their loved ones.

Sophia Butler drove from West Linn to the cemetery, bringing more than a dozen friends and family members. She wanted to demonstrate to her children how to care for public spaces. Butler noted that she was surprised by the amount of vandalism present in cemeteries during the Halloween period.

Osric Butler, Sophia's 7-year-old son, described the activity as a treasure hunt. He mentioned that the morning temperature was 46 degrees, which made him feel cold initially. However, he said that picking up trash and scrubbing the inscribed stones warmed him up. He added that he enjoys exploring different places.

Volunteer James Allman knelt on the wet grass to dig for buried grave markers. He used a metal flag pole to probe the ground for hard objects before using a butter knife to excavate carefully. Allman, who has attended two previous cleanups, said his father-in-law is buried in another Metro-managed cemetery. He stated that this work is necessary because no one else would do it.

Metro will host the next cemetery tending event on Friday, November 13, 2026, at Multnomah Park Cemetery.