Hot August Night ~ Cool Cave Music
We’re back.. with Music in the Cave!
The Onondaga Friends Association is pleased to present the duo, Harpist Tim Lilly and Violinist Anna Clare Allen, who will perform in the serenity and beauty of Onondaga Cave.
The Musicians
Tim Lilly is a St. Louis singer-songwriter who plays harp and guitar in two acoustic duos.
Tim created and performs with others “A Musical Guided Meditation Rooted in the Enneagram”, described as a journey of the soul. He became a Certified Music Practitioner in 2018 and is currently in a Certificate program to teach the Enneagram and energy work.
Anna Clare Allen is a violinist, percussionist, and singer from St. Louis, MO. As a teenager she played in the St. Louis Symphony Youth orchestra with Leonard Slatkin. Earned her Bachelors of music in violin performance at UMKC Conservatory & her Masters of Arts in Teaching at Webster University. She taught music in public schools for 25 years. She played violin/viola in the Gateway Festival Orchestra, Florissant Valley Symphony, & Quartet Brioso. She was fiddler with Mitzi MacDonald & Keltic Reign, Peat Fire Flame, and CoalescenceQ bands. Presently she enjoys playing in a violin/harp duo with Tim Lilly.
Join us on Saturday, August 2nd for this unique experience! Please bring a folding camping chair, and we will begin seating at 6:00 pm. There is no food or drink allowed in the cave; however, there will be an intermission, and hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages will be available in the Visitor Center.
Photo Tours in Onondaga Cave
Please join your tour guide for a photo tour of beautiful Onondaga Cave! You will have the opportunity to photograph some of the most stunning areas of the cave. Bring your tripod! Photo tours will be held on Sundays, listed below. Meet in the Visitor Center, and tours leave at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. Each photo tour will last approximately two and a half hours.
Dates: April 13, May 18, June 22, July 20, August 17, September 14, October 12
To pre-register and pay in person by cash or credit card, please contact the Visitor Center gift shop at 573-245-6576.
You may purchase your tickets here, and you will be pre-registered and paid. Bring your receipt! Thank you!
Cave Photo Tour Ticket Purchase:
Off-Trail Tours in Cathedral Cave
If you are interested in a different kind of cave experience, beyond the lighted tour with rails and trails, join a seasoned tour guide for a deeper exploration of Cathedral Cave at Onondaga Cave State Park.
The Cathedral Off-Trail Tour provides guests with a great entry-level experience of caving, which includes walking, climbing, crawling, even lower crawling, cold cave water, and a touch of mud. All interested guests will be asked some screener questions to be sure they are able to make the full trip through the cave and they will be shown a video of what to expect while inside the cave. Plan to spend 4 to 5 hours inside the cave on the day of your trip!
The tour guide will send a list of needed items to bring with you on your adventure, and caving helmets are provided. Along with gaining caving experience, the tour guide will also provide information about the geology, biology, and history of the cave.
Note: despite what social media may have you believe, we are NOT going cave diving. That’s a very different thing, like baseball or cashews. We are caving; exploring air-filled caves without the need for scuba gear or years of training and experience to ensure life prevails at the end. Tour dates for 2025 are:
Saturday, June 21
Saturday, July 26
Saturday, August 2
Saturday, September 6
Each tour is limited to 15 people ages 10 and up, and registration is required. There is a fee of $70 per adult and $50 per child.
To register, call the park at 573-522-3760. Proceeds will benefit Onondaga Cave State Park.
Night Tours in Cathedral Cave!
Come on out for a different experience – a guided evening walk to and through Cathedral Cave!
Everyone gathers at the campground woodlot after the park evening program ends, and tours will leave from there by 8:15 pm. The cave entrance is a short 1/3 mile hike on Deer Run Trail. Your tour will last approximately 2 hours from start to finish at the woodlot. Wear good walking shoes and bring a light jacket. We’ll provide the flashlights!
Costs will be: ages 13 & up = $15, and ages 6-12 = $10, and under 6 is free. You may pay for your tour online when tickets become available, or we can accept cash at tour time. Pre-registration is preferred, because space is limited. Pre-register at 573-245-6576.
All proceeds from these night tours will benefit Onondaga Cave State Park.
Dates: May 24, June 14, July 12, August 16, September 13
Riley the Bat looks forward to seeing you!
