Wonderland Under Warrior

Rickwood Caverns Kicks Off the Holiday Season Nov. 21 with Wonderland Under Warrior

Rickwood Caverns celebrates the holiday season with a magical underground experience like no other. Beginning Nov. 21, 2026, Wonderland Under Warrior welcomes guests for a unique experience that celebrate the sights and sounds of Christmas and the natural beauty of the cavern.

Held at Rickwood Caverns State Park, Wonderland Under Warrior is a whimsical journey underground, transforming the already magnificent cave into a special holiday experience. The self-guided tour takes visitors on a journey deep into the cave through different themed rooms such as dancing lights, glacier ice caverns, elf villages and more. Visitors come to see over 100,000 twinkling lights and to walk the lighted path among the stalactite, stalagmites and other unique geological formations beautifully illuminated with twinkling lights. Plenty of photo opportunities with different characters will also be available. The cave maintains a constant temperature of around 62 degrees year-round, making it the perfect environment to enjoy even on cold days. 

Santa Claus will arrive the day after Thanksgiving and be available through Dec. 23 to welcome visitors and to pose for photos. The gift shop will be decorated for the occasion and offer unique gifts, ornaments, snacks and hot cocoa to purchase. The 110 steps at the end of the regular tour will not be included during this time which makes the walk easier for anyone with mobility issues. The walk is about a half mile underground and a half mile back out.

Hours for Wonderland Under Warrior are 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. on the following dates:

Nov. 21-25, Nov. 27-29 (includes Santa), Dec. 2-6 (includes Santa), Dec. 9-13 (includes Santa), Dec. 16-23 (includes Santa), Dec. 26-30, 2026 and Jan. 1-3, 2027.

General admission for Wonderland Under Warrior is $12 per person for ages 5 and up. Reservations are highly recommended and can be booked online or tickets may be purchased at the park gift shop.  

Preview day for members of the media is set for Nov. 21, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Media tours begin in the Nature Center immediately upon arrival.

School Groups

For school groups of 100 or more, limited reservations are available on Wonderland Under Warrior regular operating days. Reservations can be made during operating hours, or if made at least two weeks in advance, groups of 100 or more can be reserved for 12:30 P.M., with the option to see Santa from 1:00 P.M. to 1:30 P.M.  

Following a brief closure in 2016 due to the state’s budget shortfall, Rickwood Caverns has rebounded as a top attraction for the State of Alabama. What makes Rickwood Caverns State Park unique is its massive network of underground caverns that features intriguing geological formations, underground pools and rare blind cavefish. 

Rickwood Caverns is located at 370 Rickwood Park Road in Warrior, Ala. For more information on Wonderland Under Warrior, visit https://www.alapark.com/parks/rickwood-caverns-state-park/wonderland-under-warrior.