Rickwood Caverns State Park will again offer a magical holiday experience by transforming the cave into an underground winter wonderland.

For the ninth straight year, the cave will become a walkable extravaganza known as “Wonderland Under Warrior,” an immersive attraction filled with holiday lights and characters designed to captivate the imagination of children of all ages.

“This is the most exciting time of the year at Rickwood Caverns State Park,” Rickwood Caverns State Park Manager Emily Davis said. “Every year, we see the impact of ‘Wonderland Under Warrior’ through the smiles of children and their parents. This attraction showcases the magic of the holiday season in a truly unique way. We can’t wait for people to see what we have for them this year.”

“Wonderland Under Warrior” begins on Saturday, Nov. 22 and runs through Jan. 4, 2026. Santa Claus will be available for photos in the park’s Nature Center beginning Friday, Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving, and is scheduled to be there daily through Dec. 22.

This year, “Wonderland Under Warrior” will be open on New Year’s Day, which is Thursday, Jan. 1.

Reservations can be made online, and a complete schedule for this year’s “Wonderland Under Warrior” can be found on Rickwood Caverns State Park’s website. Reservations can also be secured by calling the park at (205) 647-9692.

All regular cave tours are suspended for the duration of “Wonderland Under Warrior” and will resume in January 2026.

“If you and your family have never experienced ‘Wonderland Under Warrior,’ we encourage you to make the trip this year,” Davis said. “You won’t be disappointed.”

“Wonderland Under Warrior” offers a self-guided tour through a series of holiday-themed rooms, featuring a winter wonderland filled with elf villages, dancing lights, glacier ice caverns and more. Different characters fill each room to provide unique holiday adventure.

The “Wonderland” experience begins when visitors enter the park, with an incredible display of holiday lights outside the cave system and leading to the cave entrance. Many guests prefer to arrive after dark, allowing time to enjoy the full splendor of the outdoor light display.

Once inside, the self-guided tour goes for about a half mile into the cave system before returning. Park officials encourage visitors to wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes suitable for hiking and to make reservations in advance.

“This really is a must-see holiday experience,” said Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “It’s hard to describe how the holiday lights combine with the cave’s natural beauty to create a truly magical experience.”

The attraction will be closed on some days, including Thanksgiving Day, which is Thursday, Nov. 27; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31; and most Mondays and Tuesdays in December.

Rickwood Caverns State Park is located just off Interstate 65 in Warrior, about 30 miles north of downtown Birmingham and about 75 miles south of Huntsville.

About Alabama’s State Parks System

The Alabama State Parks is a division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and maintains 21 state parks encompassing more than 50,000 acres of land and water in Alabama. The parks range from Gulf Coast beaches to Appalachian Mountains and provide opportunities and facilities from basic day-use activities to resort convention lodging, restaurants and golfing areas. These parks rely on visitor fees and the support of other partners like local communities to fund the majority of their operations. Learn more at alapark.com.

About Rickwood State Park

Rickwood Caverns State Park features 260-million-year-old formations that were created by water and reveal evidence that the cave was carved from an ocean bed, all 175 feet below the Earth’s surface. The park also includes a campground, playground, hiking trails, gift shop and Olympic-sized swimming pool fed by cool waters from the cave. Learn more at alapark.com/parks/rickwood-caverns-state-park.