Visitor Tips & Guidelines

‍We support the use of the Cemetery as a public space for the community, provided that all visitors recognize that this is an active cemetery and are considerate of those attending burials, commemorations, and other rituals.

• Respect funeral services by staying at a distance. If you encounter a funeral procession, please step aside and wait for the procession to pass. If you come upon a funeral service taking place at a grave, please avoid the area until the service has ended. ‍
• Follow posted rules. Signs are posted at the cemetery entrance advising of basic rules.
• Enjoy and share the space thoughtfully. Respect the quiet atmosphere by speaking softly and avoiding loud conversations, music, or disruptive behavior.
  

The Cemetery grounds are open seven days a week. Hours vary seasonally:

• June through September from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• October through May from 8 a.m. to sunset.
• The Cemetery office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• The cemetery office is closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

For everyone’s safety and to protect the dignity of the Cemetery, we ask all visitors to follow these essential rules while on the grounds.

• Dogs and other pets are not allowed in the cemetery. Service dogs are welcome.
• Speed limit is 10 MPH throughout the cemetery.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• All visitors in the cemetery must use due caution on the roadways and paths, traversing the cemetery grounds at their own risk. There are many areas, both on and off the paved roads, that can be dangerous for walking, hiking, or bicycle riding. Extreme care is warranted.
• The Cemetery reserves the right to treat individuals who fail to comply with these policies as trespassers. They may be asked to leave or face appropriate action as necessary.
• Massachusetts law strictly prohibits the defacement or destruction of any part of a cemetery. This includes monuments, headstones, markers, fences, trees, shrubs, or any other structures or features within the grounds. Under state law (M.G.L. c.272, §§73–74 and c.266, §126A), anyone who damages or desecrates cemetery property may face substantial fines, imprisonment, and mandatory restitution. These laws reflect the importance of preserving cemeteries as sacred spaces of remembrance and respect. We ask all visitors to honor the dignity of the grounds and help protect them for future generations.

‍

To preserve the beauty and safety of the grounds, we ask visitors to follow these guidelines for plantings, flags, and seasonal decorations at graves.

• Annuals, perennials, and bulbs may be planted within 12 inches of upright headstones and monuments. No plantings are allowed on the sides of or behind upright markers. Planting is not allowed at flat markers.
• Potted plants are permitted.
• Flags are permitted between Memorial Day and the week following July 4th. Flags placed by the Cemetery will be removed after July 4th. *Arlington Cemetery and The American Legion's policies are that flags are to be removed after Memorial Day. Harmony Grove has decided to keep flags at graves for Flag and and July 4th.
• Wreaths are allowed from mid-November through the holiday winter season and will be removed in late January.
• Non-floral standalone decorations are not allowed, including but not limited to:
  balloons, pin wheels, shepherd's hooks, photographs, trinkets, statues, garden or stepping stones, solar lights, glass jars, or other breakable containers.
• Harmony Grove Cemetery is not liable for any items placed at graves, including lost or broken flower receptacles, and is not responsible for plantings damaged by the elements, wildlife, thieves, vandals, or other causes beyond its control.

‍

We ask all visitors to help protect the natural environment and wildlife by treating the grounds with care and respecting the habitat that makes the Cemetery a peaceful, living landscape.

• Please refrain from picking flowers, cutting trees or branches, or disturbing the soil by removing any plant or natural element such as rocks and boulders.
• As a safety precaution, please keep a safe distance from any wildlife you encounter on the grounds. Please enjoy from afar.
• For the health and safety of our wildlife and visitors, please do not feed any wildlife.

We welcome walking and quiet nature observation—take your time and enjoy the beauty around you.

• Please use caution while wearing earbuds or headphones and be aware of your surroundings.
• Quiet jogging is permitted when funerals are not taking place.
• To keep this space peaceful for everyone, we ask that you avoid recreational activities like skateboarding, rollerblading, games, or winter sports.
• Please refrain from making excessive noise, and please keep your voice at a respectful level.
• Small picnics in open areas or when visiting a loved one's grave are allowed.
• For safety, open flames such as firepits, BBQs, or campfires are not allowed.
• Alcoholic beverages and recreational drugs are prohibited.

‍

‍

• Prior permission - All photo shoots (wedding, birthday, graduation, engagement, school project, short films) must have written permission. A special permit must be obtained for all film-making or photography with special equipment or posed subjects. Please reach out to the Cemetery office to discuss.
• Be mindful of services – To protect the privacy of families, please avoid photographing or filming funeral services, burials, or funeral professionals.
• Respect the quiet – Please follow our Visitor Rules so everyone can enjoy the tranquility here.
• Care for the space – Keep tripods away from roads, monuments, trees, and plantings.
• Honor privacy – Please don’t capture legible names or dates on monuments unless it’s the resting place of a well-known public figure.
• Keep it personal – Images should be for personal enjoyment, not for promoting products, services, or brands. Commercial photography is not permitted.‍
• Celebrate the natural beauty – Visitors are welcome to enjoy photography that highlights the cemetery’s natural setting, including its plantings, wildlife, and scenery. We ask that you avoid fashion shoots, posed scenes, props, and nudity.‍
• Enjoy the view from the ground – Drones may only be flown by Cemetery staff for our own projects.‍
• Sharing your work – If you’d like to post your images online, you are welcome to tag the cemetery. If you plan to include them in a show or publish them, please reach out to request permission first.

Harmony Grove's historic memorials, many well over 180 years old, may be fragile. Please help us preserve these works of art.

• In order to not damage or cause injury, please do not lean, sit, climb, or stand on any gravestone, monument, or flat marker.
• Removal of gravestones, monuments, or any other type of granite structure is considered theft and will be prosecuted.
• Please refrain from touching monuments and taking grave rubbings.

For the safety of our visitors and staff, please observe these rules:

• Speed limit is 10 MPH throughout the cemetery.
• When parking, please leave space for cars to pass. Do not block roads.
• Do not drive on grass or unpaved roads.
• Please do not use the cemetery for driving instruction.
• Harmony Grove's roads are shared between pedestrians and vehicles. We ask that while driving you use caution and drive slowly. Please be mindful of those walking.
• Parking is for those visiting the cemetery only.
• Motorized dirt bikes, unregistered mopeds, and ATVs are not permitted.

‍

Thank you for helping us keep our cemetery beautiful and focused on honoring loved ones.

• Our cemetery barrels are intended only for waste generated from the care of graves (such as flowers, plant containers, or grave decorations). Household garbage, construction garbage, food waste, or trash from your vehicle should not be placed in these containers.
• Please dispose of trash respectfully.