09/28/2026
Beginning October 16th in Knoxville, Tennessee…the Cherokee Caverns’ “Trick or Treat in the Cave” event gets underway, giving families just six nights across two weekends to explore this normally closed underground wonder! The 2026 dates are October 16–18 and 23–25. During this fun fall event, you can follow the quarter-mile cave loop past stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstone and other natural rock formations while thousands of Halloween lights glow throughout the cavern. Kids and adults can wear costumes and trick-or-treat along the cave path, collecting candy while passing themed Halloween scenes, festive decorations, music and photo spots. The event is family friendly rather than a scary haunted-house experience. Cherokee Caverns has a long history too, with its first commercial tours beginning in 1929. Today, it is not open for regular daily tours, so special events like this are one of the few chances each year to go inside. The paved cave route has a steady downhill walk going in and an uphill climb coming back out, with a couple places to sit along the way. It is also wheelchair, mobility-scooter and stroller friendly. Friday hours are 5–8 p.m., while Saturdays and Sundays run 3–8 p.m.
