Special Events
Join us for various events and celebrations throughout the year!

Upcoming Events!

December 17, Clean out those attics, closets and garages!
Almost everyone loves to collect things - rocks, baseball cards, etc. The Nature Trading Post at Lost River Cave encourages children and families to explore the natural world and create their own collections of natural objects. As items are found, they can be added to your collection or brought to The Nature Trading Post at Lost River Cave and traded for other items for your collection.

To get this project off the ground we need: 
-Rocks 
-Fossils 
-Leaves, seeds, pressed flowers, or unaltered wood 
-Sea shells 
-Dried sea organisms (such as sand dollars or star fish) 
-Sand 
-Bundles of dried flowers 
-Number 2 pencils 
-Zip lock bags of all sizes, including very large ones 
-5 to 7 cubic foot chest freezer or $100 
-Posters that teach about nature or a natural phenomenon (geologic cycle, insect metamorphosis...) 
-$5.00/pound to help purchase bulk rock, minerals and fossils to jump start the trading. 
-Clean bones/skulls, antlers or teeth, cocoons, spider webs, snake skins, turtle shells, and exoskeletons of insects (such as tarantulas)

No items regulated by U.S. Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Act, CITES (Convention of International Trades of Endangered Species), or other local, state, national or international laws and agreements-NO EGGS, FEATHERS or NESTS. No living animals, no dead animals that have been hunted or hurt. No items of archaeological interests: if it has been made or altered by historic or prehistoric man. Nothing that is icky, smelly or meaty.

Although we will need donations all year to keep the Nature Trading Post going, donate by December 17 to recieve an invitation to the Nature Trading 
Post Grand Opening April 14th!

Every Thursday in December 12-6pm - Eat. Drink. Enjoy.
Have a craving for something different? Join us every Thursday 12-6pm for a truly unique tasting experience. Thursdays will feature samplings of our delightfully delicious ‘Chocolatinis’. While Saturdays will be a tasting of our many cheese balls and preserves sold here at Wildflower gifts. So stop on by to eat, drink, and enjoy, all the while stimulating your taste buds with something fresh and exciting.
Hope to see you here!

Saturday December 3, 10, 17, 2011 - Kids Only Christmas Shopping

Parents will be treated to hot chocolate in our beautiful new Birch Meeting Room while kids shop with help from Christmas Carole. Kids will be able to find gifts for mom and dad to brother and sister. Help make a budget for your child to follow and come on in the gift shop to help make a wish list of the things you like. Many of our gifts have an average cost of $5-$25.

November 20, 2-4pm-Geocaching 101: Introduction to Hand-Held GPS Units: What to Buy
Lecture: Guest speaker from Gander Mountain will discuss the different types of units and their different features.  
Hands-on: Participants will search for event caches containing Holiday surprises.

No registration required, call Lost River Cave and Valley for details, 393-0077.

September 23 - November 22, 2011- Facebook Fall Photo Contest

We are looking for astonishing imagery of Lost River’s wildlife or natural landscapes.
Submitted images must be taken at Lost River Cave and Valley between September 23, 2011 – November 22, 2011. Photos of plant life, natural landscapes, wildlife and
photographs including people at Lost River are acceptable for the composition.
Photos are submitted via Facebook.

October 1-9, 2011- Lost River Cave Fall Break Bash

Fall in love with Lost River Cave for only $4 a person!
Enjoy Fall Break with your family by experiencing Kentucky’s only underground boat tour. Your family can have a blast with our free junior tour guide program and free lip smacking cider at our gift shop Wildflower Gifts. Balloon artist Daniel Puckett will entertain children on October 1th and 2nd Visit on Saturday October 8th to browse the annual Lost River Cave Art Fair. Take advantage of the special $4 boat tour admission. The tour begins with a guided stroll along the river walk that leads to the massive cave entrance. Upon arriving at the cave, daylight disappears from view as you board the boat and journey into this Kentucky Natural Wonder. This once a year special event takes place October 1st through October 9th.
Come during the week to beat the crowd, bring a picnic and leave time for the Blue Hole Trails!

Saturday, October 8, 2011- Fourth Annual Artworks, Inc Art Fair

The Fourth Annual Artworks, Inc. Art Fair exhibition and art sale is Saturday, October 8, 2011 at Lost River Cave and Valley. The Artworks, Inc. Art Fair will showcase original fine art by local and regional Kentucky artists in all mediums from sculpture, woodworking, painting, ceramics, blown glass and much more. This is an exciting opportunity for the public to experience our arts community at work and purchase one-of-a-kind handcrafted works of art while enjoying the natural wonders of Lost River Cave and Valley. Be sure to join us Saturday, October 8th, 2011 from 10:00AM - 5:00PM at Lost River Cave and Valley located at 2818 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, KY 42101. For more information visit: www.artworksinc.org

ArtWorks, Inc: A Visual Collation is a non-profit organization of artists, patrons, and supporters dedicated to creating a sustainable art community by increasing visibility, vitality, and economic growth for the visual arts.

Saturday, September 17, 2011- Lost River Cave Smoke Writing Tour

Saturday, August 27, 2011- Great American Campout at Lost River Cave (*Resigration Form is available below event details for download.)

Let’s give back to our children and ourselves what we don’t even realize we’ve lost andreconnect with the GREAT outdoors! A great place to start is by celebrating an all American tradition with family and friends at the Great American Campout at Lost River Cave and Valley on August 27th.  Trade screen time for green time, get in touch with your wild side by spending a night under the stars.  Studies have shown that encouraging outdoor time andexploration for children generates an appreciation and respect for the wonders of nature, an attitude that they will carry throughout adulthood.  Families that share the gift of nature through camping will form priceless memories and togetherness.  A nightunder the stars will allow children to understand and experience why it’s called the GREAT outdoors.

Experience fun environmentally-friendly, simple and effective camping techniques from proper campfire management, open-fire cooking and crafts that utilize natural elements and recreate man’s historic use of nature.  Feel like a kid again as you enjoy sharing camp fire stories, playing flashlight games and gathering together with other area campers at the ice cream social. Join your community and create lasting memories connecting with family and friends in the GREAT outdoors at this year’s Great American Campout at Lost River Cave. 

Admission is $15 per family.  Pre-register by AUGUST 25, 2011

Registration Form Download: GREAT American Campout Registration Form

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - Get Down with Dueling Pianos

Join your friends at Lost River for "Get Down with Dueling Pianos" in the historic Cave Ballroom. Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 9th to experience the nationally renowned "Sign Along, Clap Along, Comedy Revue" performed by the talented and hilarious musicians of Dueling Pianos International.

Tickets on sale NOW for your choice of Entertainment Only at $25 per person and $45 per couple or enjoy Dinner & Entertainment for an additional $20 per person. Tickets for "Get Down with Dueling Pianos" can be purchased at the Lost River Cave and Valley Visitors Center or by calling 270-393-0077.

All proceeds raised from this event support the ongoing work of the "Friends of the Lost River" as a historical, geological, cultural, and educational site.

Sunday, June 26th - Annual Butterfly Celebration

Join us at the Charles W. Miller Butterfly Habitat on Sunday, June 26th from 1:00PM – 4:00PM! This event is free to anyone who wants to attend. Meet in the valley for FREE butterfly gardening tips, great photo opportunities, face painting, FREE lemonade, and information about Rain Barrels. The first 100 children who arrive get to release their very own butterfly into the habitat!

Saturday, June 25th - Silpada Trunk Show at Wildflower Gifts

Treat yourself with the finest uniquely handcrafted Sterling Silver jewelry at this month’s Silpada Trunk Show with Betsy Ann Tracy at Lost River Cave and Valley’s Wildflower Gifts. 

Join us Saturday, June 25th from 11:00AM – 3:00PM and enjoy the colorful selection of semi-precious gemstones and natural materials including Freshwater Pearls, Coral, tooled Leather jewelry and so much more.  While you’re shopping be sure to register for the $50 Silpada Gift Certificate and the $50 Wildflower Gifts Certificate drawing.   

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the preservation of Lost River Cave & Valley. For more information contact Lost River Cave and Valley at 270.393.0077 or visit them online at lostrivercave.com.

Saturday, June 4th - 'i love bg' day!

Do the COOL thing and chill down in the cave for ‘i love bg’ day at Lost River Cave and Valley.  All day long  ½ Price admission to Kentucky’s only underground boat tour on Saturday, June 4th to all area residents.  Tours start at 9:00AM until 5:00PM running at the top of every hour on a first-come, first-served basis.

'i love bg' Flash Mob - WWWFM VIII - 10:00AM Saturday, June 4th

The World Wide Flash Mob 8 is a coordinated geocaching event. A flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, have their picture taken together, then quickly disperse. These events take place simultaneously at locations across the globe. If you want to participate in the WWFM this year, Bowling Green is the place to be - the next nearest one is over 100 miles away! 

The event will last exactly 15 minutes, not one second longer. The event will begin EXACTLY at: 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011 and will end at EXACTLY 10:15 AM. The theme is “I Love Bowling Green”.  To comply with the theme we ask that everyone exhibit something green!  At exactly 10:00 (as determined by your GPS clock) a bucket for log sheets will be placed near N 37° 07.105, W 38° 32.404. No GPS? Come in and get details at the Visitor Center. 

Bring a slip of paper with only your name written on it.  To qualify for attendance, drop them in the designated bucket.  These log sheets will later become the log book.  You MUST be present and deposit your name into the log bin DURING this time to claim the event and to be eligible for the boor prizes. 

At a designated time, we will take a group photo. At exactly 10:15, the log sheets will be packed up and sealed away. The event area will be evacuated without a trace.  Come and be part of a worldwide event! 

Saturday, April 30th - Wildflower Gifts Grand Opening

Join us for the Grand Opening festivities of the newly expanded Wildflower Gifts at Lost River Cave on Saturday, April 30th from 9-5.  Wildflower Gifts is designed with you in mind…home décor, garden accessories, jewelry, Natural Life T-shirts, Kentucky food products, local artists and much more.  With Mother’s Day on the way you’re sure to find the perfect gift.  We’ll have food samples, door prizes and a drawing for a $100 gift certificate. 

All proceeds benefit the preservation of Lost River Cave & Valley.  Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook for your chance to win a free iPad.  Call 393-0077 for more information.

Thursday, April 28th - Sip 'N' Shop

Sip 'N' Shop with us in celebration of our newly renovated gift shop, Wildflower Gifts, on Thursday, April 28th from 5:00 - 7:00PM! Enjoy door prizes, live music, and register to win a $100 grand prize shopping spree giveaway!

Saturday, April 23 - 8th Annual Earth Day Invasive Plant Pull Celebration

In celebration of Earth Day, Lost River Cave and Valley invites you to spend an afternoon to help re-invigorate the valley floor, on Saturday, April, 23th from 1:00PM - 4:00PM. Bring your entire family and join other community members as they band together in an attempt to eradicate invasive plants from the Lost River Valley.

Pre-register by 5:00PM Thursday, April 21st so we can plan a plant plot for you to help pull pesky plants from the valley. Early-bird registrants will receive free Invasive Plant Pull t-shirts, Free Boat Tours, Door Prizes, and Gift Shop Discounts. Volunteers can pre-register by downloading the application provided below.

Download: Earth Day Application

The Invasive Plant Pull is an annual event at Lost River Cave & Valley offering individuals a chance to gain volunteer experience while teaching you to detect invasive plant species wherever you see them. With your help Lost River will one day be rid of the pesky sprouts that run rampantly over the 25-acre valley floor. Clearing plants like winter creeper and privet is easy work that provides much needed elbow room for our long suffering native plants. Your handiwork will be rewarded once you see that sunshine, rain and nutrients are helping to re-invigorate the forest floor with a carpet of ferns and native flowers that provide food and shelter for the valley’s native and migrating animals.

Lost River Cave Geocaching 101 Series
Geocaching is a hot new sport that is attracting thousands of players. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt using hand-held Global Positioning System receivers and a set of Latitude and Longitude coordinates. 
The Global Positioning System (GPS) enables people to locate a specific geographic position accurately—anywhere in the world—using a GPS receiver unit. Once a person has hidden a treasure (or “geocache”) and recorded the location, another player can locate the geocache using a GPS unit.
The Geocaching 101 series classes will teach participants how to use a GPS receiver unit and how to successfully participate in the game. Bring your own GPS unit or share one during the event. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in learning about the activity. Each 101 session will consist of 1 hour of class room learning and 1 hour of hands-on seeking. 
Geocaching is a wonderful activity for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Because of the various difficulty levels in geocache hunts, people of all abilities can find suitable challenges.  Our Geocaching 101 class is designed for adults and children. 

January 16, 2-4pm-Geocaching 101: Introduction to Geocaching          
Lecture: What is Geocaching? Learn the history of GPS, Navigation and Caching.  Learn the types of Caches, including traditional, travel bugs, geocoins, signature items and Earthcaches. Find out what you need to Geocache.
Hands-on: Participants will venture out on the Park to learn how to Geocache and the proper etiquette.
March 20, 2-4pm-    Geocaching 101: Basic Use of a GPS
Lecture: Participants will learn how to store coordinates, set-up waypoints, track mileage, and download/upload information for many basic units.
Hands-on: participants will store event cache coordinates on their own and then find it.
April 24, 1-4pm- Earth Day/CITO Event
Cachers volunteer to pick up trash along the trails on which they love to cache! Join us for door prizes, fun and hard work!
May 22, 2-4pm-Geocaching 101: Geocaching.com: How to use It
Lecture: With a connection to the internet, participants learn how to set up a username on the widely used website, how to search for caches and log their adventures.
Hands-on: Participants will find a Valley Cache and log their find on Geocaching.com, and setting up a username if   necessary. 
July 17, 2-4pm-Geocaching 101: Hiding a Cache
Lecture: Participants will learn the etiquette to hiding a traditional cache, the types of caches available, how to evaluate the cache (difficulty level…) and how to publish it on Geocaching.com.
Hands-on: Participants will break into groups, hide ready-made caches, provide information to another team and find each other’s caches.
August 28, TBA-Great American Campout/Night Geocaching Event
Participants will find the Valley Caches in the Dark!  This does not require participants to camp out.
September 18, 2-4pm-Geocaching 101: Advanced Geocaching
Lecture and Hands-on: Participants will learn about and try their hand in the field to decipher and find difficult caches such as puzzle caches and micro-caches.
November 20, 2-4pm-Geocaching 101: Introduction to Hand-Held GPS Units: What to Buy
Lecture: Guest speaker from Gander Mountain will discuss the different types of units and their different features. 
Hands-on: Participants will search for event caches containing Holiday surprises.

No registration required, call Lost River Cave and Valley for details, 393-0077.