Caverns Caroling Makes Giving Fun

Grottoes’ Caroling in the Caverns, which made a successful debut last year, will take place a second time on Saturday.

Mark Keeler, president of Grottoes Ruritan Club and event coordinator, says the evening of guided tours though Grand Caverns will definitely become an annual staple in the town.

The 2011 holiday fundraiser collected more than $900 and about 120 items, such as arts and crafts supplies, books and games.

The proceeds were split equally between South River Elementary School’s Boys & Girls Club and the Ruritan Club’s scholarship fund, which provides $1,000 toward college costs for a Spotswood High School senior who lives in Grottoes. 

This year’s proceeds will go to the same accounts.

“This actually went beyond our expectations for our first time,” Keeler said. “We were very pleased and very impressed.”

He doesn’t have a specific goal in mind for proceeds or attendance for this year, but he’s anticipating a strong response based on the reaction he’s heard.

The tours will leave every 15 minutes between 6 and 8 p.m. Saturday and last about 45 minutes each.

Tickets for adults are $5, and children 12 and younger can get in for free with the donation of new arts and crafts supplies, new or used books, games or puzzles.

The following musical artists will serenade guests in the candlelit cave: Fred Holbrook playing the bagpipes, Harrisonburg Harmonizers, Eastern Mennonite University a cappella group Shekinah and Peggy Counts, who will lead a singalong with each group.

For more information, visit www.grandcaverns.com or call 249-5705. 

Contact Candace Sipos at 574-6275 or csipos@dnronline.com