Cave Sing

The Lindsey Wilson College Singers perform at the annual Cave Sing event at Mammoth Cave National Park in Rafinesque Hall.

NPS Photo

Cave Sing 2025

Mammoth Cave National Park will host the 46th annual Cave Sing celebration on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. CST. The free holiday event will feature musical performances inside the cave by the Heart of Kentucky Chorus and Butler County Middle School auditioned choir, and pre-event music at the visitor center by vocalist Markita Connor and pianist John Baumgardner.

In addition to two groups performing inside the cave, holiday music will greet guests as they arrive to the visitor center starting at 1 p.m. Light refreshments will be served immediately after Cave Sing in the lobby of The Lodge at Mammoth Cave where there will also be a visit from Santa Claus.

2025 Performers

The Heart of Kentucky Chorus from Elizabethtown, KY will make their second appearance at Cave Sing. The group is a barbershop mixed ensemble of over 40 members and is directed by Aaron Dale. Since forming in 2003, the group has entertained tens of thousands of people at hundreds of public performances and is known for its warm, joyful sound and its commitment to harmony throughout central Kentucky and beyond.

The Butler County Middle School auditioned choir is an American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) honor’s choir composed of 65 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students who perform at events around the region and state throughout the year. Some events include the Kentucky State Capitol at Christmas, Western Kentucky University (WKU), and Bowling Green Hot Rods baseball games. The group is directed by Travis Lowe, graduate of WKU and teacher at Butler County Middle and High school for the past 15 years.

In addition to the two choral groups, Mammoth Cave guide and self-taught banjoist, Jake Penn, will entertain guests as they travel through the cave to the performance area. Jake specializes in nineteenth century musical styles and joined the National Park Service in 2021. He enjoys incorporating music into his educational programs, especially living history presentations.

Vocalist Markita Connor and pianist John Baumgardner will perform holiday music for event guests inside the visitor center to welcome guests to Cave Sing. The duo has made music together at weddings, restaurants, churches, cocktail lounges, private parties, and corporate/special events for more than 30 years. Their performance styles include jazz and blues standards to Top 40 tunes from most decades.

 

Several cave visitors stand around the historic tree in Mammoth Cave, c.1936.

NPS Photo/ maca_28468

History of Cave Sing at Mammoth Cave

"...the halls of the cave rang with joyous carols and the laughter of happy children."

During the winter of 1883, a group of local residents to the Mammoth Cave area planned a Christmas celebration in the cave. The party consisted of carols, laughter, and even the hanging of the green. A ten foot pine tree was brought into the cave and stood in the Methodist Church area of the cave. Ribbons and popcorn were used for decorating the tree, while lanterns and candles were used to illuminate the surroundings.

After Christmas was over, the tree did not leave. Maybe it was left as a reminder of a happier day or simply a wonderful memory. The tree dried out, but the needles stayed in place. The tree was popular among visitors, they could leave a piece of themselves down in the cave for all the world to know they had been there. Some did this by leaving business cards behind, others simply left their name on a piece of scrap paper and nestled it on the tree's brown, crumbly needles.

As the decades passed, the old tree was moved out of sight from the cave trails where it remained until a misguided flame landed in the dry brush. The tree lit up one last time before it came to its final moment. This later became known as the only forest fire in Mammoth Cave.

The Modern Cave Sing

In 1980, the first of the modern Cave Sing events was held to celebrate the holiday season and relive the old traditions. Several musical groups perform in large rooms in the cave and visitors join in by singing carols to fill the cave passages with music. Today, Cave Sing is a cherished tradition by area locals and park visitors alike. The annual event is traditionally held on the first Sunday in December.

Hear a sample of music performed in the cave during the Cave Sing of 2008 below.

 

• Music in the cave

  
  

  “My Old Kentucky Home” performed in the halls of Mammoth Cave by former Cave Guide Dr. Janet Bass Smith on piano, accompanied by Klaus Kaemper (descendant of Max Kaemper) playing cello. This recording was made inside Mammoth Cave during the annual Cave Sing in 2008.

  Credit / Author:

  NPS/ Chuck DeCroix

  Date created:

  12/07/2008

  Audio Transcript

  The song “My Ole Kentucky Home” on piano and cello. The song ends in applause from the audience.

 

Thanks to Our Partners

Cave Sing is made possible through the generous contributions of the Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park and park concessioner, ExplorUS, as well as the invaluable support of volunteers who assist in coordinating this annual event.

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