For the ninth straight year, Rickwood Caverns State Park will become a walkable holiday extravaganza known as Wonderland Under Warrior. The immersive attraction is 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,” 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 runs through January 4, 2026. Santa Claus will be available for photos in the park’s Nature Center beginning Friday, November 28, the day after Thanksgiving, and is scheduled to be there daily through December 22.
This year, Wonderland Under Warrior will also be open on New Year’s Day.
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 made by calling the park at (205) 647-9692. Regular cave tours 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, November 27; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve, December 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.
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