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where can i get ash wednesday ashes

You can usually get Ash Wednesday ashes at many Christian churches and, in some places, in “on‑the‑go” locations like transit stations or airports.

Quick Scoop

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, and many Catholic, Anglican/Episcopal, Lutheran, and some other churches offer ashes throughout the day. In recent years, churches have also brought ashes into public spaces so people can receive them even if they cannot attend a full service.

Most common places to get ashes

  • Your local parish church
    • Catholic parishes almost always offer at least one Mass or liturgy with distribution of ashes, often early morning, midday, and evening.
* Many Anglican/Episcopal and some Lutheran churches also offer services with ashes.

* You can usually check:
  * Parish website or Facebook page
  * Diocesan website listings for Ash Wednesday times
  • “Ashes on the go” in public places
    • In a lot of cities, clergy and volunteers bring ashes to:
      • Train stations and subway/“L” stops (for example, Union Station and various CTA stations in Chicago).
  * Busy street corners and public squares (such as Boston Common or Daley Plaza in Chicago).

  * College campuses and near universities.

* The “Ashes to Go” movement specifically encourages offering ashes in places like coffee shops, sidewalks, and transit hubs.
  • Airports and travel chapels
    • Many large airports with chapels or interfaith centers have chaplains distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday, sometimes all day long.
* Examples include:
  * Chicago O’Hare and Midway
  * Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson
  * Denver, Dallas–Fort Worth, Orlando, and others.
  • Workplaces, hospitals, and campuses
    • Some chaplains visit offices, hospitals, and transport depots to give ashes to staff who can’t leave work.
* University chaplaincies often have multiple short services and sometimes “ashes to go” tables on campus.

How to quickly find a spot near you

You’ll get the best answer for “where can I get Ash Wednesday ashes” near you by:

  1. Searching:
    • “[Your city] Ash Wednesday service times”
    • “[Your diocese or denomination] Ash Wednesday ashes”
    • “[Your city] ashes to go” or “Ashes to Go [year]”.
  1. Checking:
    • Local Catholic diocese website, Episcopal/Lutheran synod website, or major parish sites—they often post city‑wide or regional lists with locations and times.
  1. Looking at:
    • Local news sites; some publish “Where to get ashes” lists for big cities.

A quick example (to visualize)

In a large city like Chicago, people can receive ashes:

  • At regular parish churches during Mass or prayer services.
  • At Union Station and multiple CTA stations during commuting hours, offered by churches like Old St. Patrick’s and others.
  • At the airport chapels at O’Hare and Midway for travelers.

In other big U.S. cities, similar patterns show up: downtown churches, public squares, campuses, and transportation hubs with clergy offering ashes for short encounters instead of a full liturgy.

TL;DR: To get Ash Wednesday ashes, check nearby Catholic or mainline Protestant churches, look for “ashes to go” events at busy public spots (stations, city centers, campuses), and, if you’re traveling, see if your airport chapel is offering ashes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.