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I’ll be the first to admit that my ardor for my alma mater—the widely loved and loathed University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana—has, at times, clouded my judgment. (Exhibit A: “We can totally take Alabama in the national championship!”) But when I found out that the Undertones, ND’s 11-man a cappella group, would be kicking off their 2014 winter tour with benefit concerts in Manitou Springs’ Cave of the Winds, I knew it was an event that merited my enthusiasm—and other Coloradans’, too.
This Sunday, January 5, upgrade your experience of the classic Centennial state destination‘s two miles of caverns and passages: Sign up for the noon or 1:30 p.m. slot in order to enjoy a 30-minute concert in Canopy Hall in addition to your family-friendly Discovery Tour (adults: $20, children 6–11: $15). Or, for a bit more adventure, opt for the 2 or 3 p.m. Lantern Tour (adults: $25, children 6–11: $17), which takes you deeper into the Grand Cavern’s for a 30-minute show by lantern light. According to Cave of the Winds manager Ann Tilley, the instrument-free performances will be a first for the acoustically rich caves. (Fun fact: There have been weddings in the space, and in the 1880s, shortly after the caves’ discovery, a symphony orchestra played there.)
Spots are limited and—given that admission is only a couple of bucks more than usual and part of the proceeds (and money collected on-site) will go toward fire and flood relief in Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs—we’re betting they’ll go fast. You can reserve yours through Cave of the Winds’ website.
Can’t make the Cave of the Winds show? Catch the ‘Tones’ smooth sounds at one of their other Colorado tour stops in Vail, Beaver Creek, and Golden.
—Photo Courtesy of Cave of the Winds
Follow copy chief Jessica Farmwald on Twitter at @JessicaKF.