By GAGE WILSON
for Glasgow News 1
Visitors from across the nation flocked to Mammoth Cave National Park for the 46th annual Cave Sing recently.
The event was first held in the late 19th century and has grown into a hallmark holiday event that brings music, history, and community together beneath the surface.
Rangers worked diligently to create a festive and immersive experience, lighting lanterns to evoke a warm, homey ambiance and even incorporating a tree reminiscent of the first Cave Sings over a century ago.
Guests enjoyed an impressive program of holiday music, including performances by the Lindsey Wilson College Singers, the Heart of Kentucky Chorus, and the park’s own ranger and trumpeter, Hillary Sward. Encased by limestone walls, the carols reverberated through the cave’s chambers, creating a soundscape as enchanting as it was festive.
The singers performed a repertoire ranging from classic carols to contemporary favorites, stationed at a site within the cave known as Bunker Hill. According to Molly Schroer, the park’s public affairs officer, this location was chosen for its ability to accommodate the hundreds of attendees.
“It also has fantastic acoustics,” Schroer said. “When we had the Louisville Orchestra down here, their director [Teddy Abrams] brought a tuner and several instruments to test how things would sound. When he finished, he compared it to a concert hall.”
The Cave Sing tradition dates back to the winter of 1883, when local residents gathered in the cave for caroling and celebration. Over time, this event evolved into its modern iteration, first officially held in 1980, as a way to honor the cave’s cultural and historical legacy.
The event has garnered national attention, with last year’s performance drawing approximately 800 visitors to the park.
“It’s all hands on deck,” Schroer said as she hurried to meet the bustling crowd. “Each year is different, but our goal is to keep this free and accessible to everyone.”
