If you love dancing and music as much as we do, then you know there are all sorts of fantastic places to experience music and entertainment in Minnesota - from festivals and concert venues to outdoor spaces and music clubs. But did you know that you can also hear live music and go swing dancing at a cave in Minnesota? Yup, you heard me right (must be the natural acoustics!) - all you have to do is head down to Wabasha Street Caves in Saint Paul on one of its regularly-scheduled swing dancing nights!
What are known today as the Wabasha Street Caves resulted from a series of abandoned mining operations in the 1800s.
Prospectors and speculators carved a labyrinth of tunnels into the limestone bluffs along the Mississippi River across from downtown Saint Paul.
Over the century and a half or so of their existence, the caves have worn many guises, as everything from a mushroom farm to a casino.
Today, behind a handsome brick façade, the caves are a popular event venue.
The venue hosts weddings and corporate events throughout the year.
And every Thursday, Wabasha Street Caves hosts its Swing Night, where you can dance and enjoy music inspired by mid-20th century style.
A regular rotation of bands plays the events, so if you go two weeks in a row, you'll hear different music and arrangements.
Newbies need not fret! Swing dancing lessons are available - and included with your admission - just after the doors open and before the music begins.
If you're fascinated by this place and would like to learn more about the history behind this iconic Saint Paul venue, you're in luck!
You can book a guided tour of the caves and learn all about their intriguing past, including their use as a Prohibition Era hideout by some of the state's more notorious gangsters.
In terms of unique venues for music and dancing in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, it really doesn't get more singular than this cave in Minnesota. Be sure to check the Wabasha Street Caves website for its schedule of swing dancing events. The venue posts regular updates on its Facebook page, including the names of the bands who are playing that week. If you're looking for a nearby dinner idea, Boca Chica - the venerable Mexican restaurant - is just a few blocks from the caves.
Have you visited Wabasha Street Caves to go dancing or listen to music? What are some other unique music venues in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments!
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/minnesota/humble-restaurant-owned-by-original-family-mn/
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