BLUE MOUNDS, Wis. — One of the state’s oldest natural landmarks is now showcasing science with a festive spin.

Through Jan. 12, regular tours at Cave of the Mounds in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin are now accompanied by twinkling lights.

Thousands of tourists visit the cave each year. It’s open year-round, but assistant general manager Tate Phillip said they didn’t start decorating the cave for the holidays until about two years ago.

“We had a very high interest,” Phillip said. “So, we very, very quickly amped up our game last year, and so this year, we put more thought into it and really dove into putting lights in the cave.”

That interest hasn’t stopped. Phillip said it’s brought a welcomed increase in visitors since the event started.

“An increase for us, especially this time of year, is [normally] a family or two and now it’s like, three or four families,” she said. “So, it’s really exciting that way.”

It also brings in repeat visitors. Nathalie Gonzalez took in the cave’s beauty for a second time Saturday with her mom and sister.

“I think the lights were really cool,” Gonzalez said.

For many, special events at the cave are a way to learn more about science and the earth.

“I liked learning about the stalactites and other types of rocks like the sandstone and limestone,” Gonzalez said.

For Phillip and her team, that’s the goal. She said they want to help people realize that they can have a new experience, and learn something too, each time they visit.

“We have events, we have bands in the cave,” Phillip said. “We have all sorts of things. So, a cave is not like a onetime experience, but to learn more about caves.”

It’s also boosting the economy in an area that doesn’t have many holiday-themed attractions.

“A lot of people think, ‘Oh, it’s a cave, it shuts down in the winter’, but we’re open all year round,” Phillip said. “So we just see people who are like, ‘Yay, a warm place to see lights. We can see lights at 2 p.m. instead of waiting till night.’”