Edgar Allan Poe Birthday & Poe Toaster Murder Mystery
NEW THIS YEAR: LIVE MUSIC, LIVE MYSTERY
Lit-hop artist MC Lars joins the evening to launch his brand-new album inspired by the legend of the Poe Toaster. His live performances are woven directly into the mystery, soundtracking the investigation and turning this year’s Poe Toaster case into a high-energy blend of storytelling, true crime and music.
The Poe Toaster is dead, murdered at the grave of Edgar Allan Poe and their killer is on the loose. Solve the mystery for Poe’s birthday!
For decades, a mysterious visitor known only as the Poe Toaster crept through Westminster Hall & Burying Ground on the eve of Poe’s birthday, leaving three roses and a glass of cognac at the poet’s grave. The ritual became legend until 2009, when the Toaster vanished without a trace.
Now, supernatural sleuth, masterful medium, and podcast host Raven Nevermore reopens what may be Baltimore’s second-coldest case, because the first, of course, is the death of Edgar Allan Poe himself. Dun dun duh!
Join us for a live, podcast-style murder mystery that blurs the line between séance, true crime, and performance. Celebrate Poe’s 217th birthday at Westminster Hall & Burying Ground during a special mock broadcast of Raven Nevermore: Unsolved Mysteries, recorded before a live audience. Together, you’ll follow chilling clues, encounter suspicious characters, and discover that the Poe Toaster’s disappearance may have been only the beginning.
MC Lars appears throughout the evening, performing live as the mystery unfolds. His music becomes part of the case itself, amplifying revelations, heightening tension and propelling the story forward as the night builds toward its final reveal.
This party, complete with cake and toasty refreshments on a cold January evening, includes a guided mystery experience and a tour of the historic catacombs. Guests will explore the old cemetery where Poe is buried, follow the trail of a killer, and take part in a shared investigation guided by our haunted host and performers.
General Admission includes:
• The live murder mystery with Raven Nevermore featuring Poe’s Café Theatre
• Live musical performance and album launch by MC Lars
• Complimentary party refreshments and hot cocoa
• Tour of Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, including the catacombs
• A graveside birthday toast to Edgar Allan Poe
Visitors from around the world travel to Baltimore every year to pay tribute at Edgar Allan Poe’s grave on his birthday. Join fellow Poe fans inside historic Westminster Hall for a birthday celebration unlike any other. During the evening, we will also briefly spotlight the winners of the 2025–26 Young Saturday ‘Visiter’ Awards and present a Poe-themed silent auction featuring photography from the Baltimore Camera Club. Proceeds benefit the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum.
Note: This event is family-friendly, but themes include violent imagery and a cemetery tour. Attendee discretion is advised. Bundle up—we follow the clues wherever they lead, even into the frigid January night.
VIP PACKAGE
Limited VIP tickets include early entry and a Bus Tour of Edgar Allan Poe’s Baltimore!
Explore the enduring mystery surrounding Poe’s final days on a two-hour guided tour, featuring four significant Poe sites—including both of his graves—and the locations where he was found and where he died.
Bus Tour Itinerary (2 hours)
The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum
Gunner’s Hall (historical perspective)
The hospital where Poe died (photo stop)
Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, including both Poe graves, cemetery, and catacombs
Bus departs Westminster Hall at 4 PM (early!) Tours meet at Poe’s grave at the Fayette Street entrance.
Tours presented by Poe Baltimore and Baltimore Rent-A-Tour.
Young Saturday ‘Visiter’ Awards presented by the Baltimore National Heritage Area, Maryland Humanities, and Poe Baltimore.
Silent auction photography provided by the Baltimore Camera Club, the oldest continuously operating camera club in the U.S.
Proceeds benefit the historic Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum and Poe Baltimore, a 501(c)(3) organization.
