BALTIMORE — Edgar Allan Poe is getting the funeral he never had.
Fewer than 10 people attended Poe’s funeral when he died in October 1849 at age 40. On Sunday, some 700 people are expected to attend two services for the great writer.
The event is being held at Westminster Hall, the former church adjacent to Poe’s grave. Actors will portray Poe’s friends and contemporaries as well as writers and artists who cited Poe as an influence. A local special-effects artist has even created a mock-up of Poe’s corpse.
The funerals are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The event is the highlight of a yearlong festival marking the 200th anniversary of Poe’s birth.