There’s high demand for firefly show tickets in NC’s mountains. Here’s how to snag one
Each summer in the western part of North Carolina, a special kind of firefly offers a “Christmas tree light show” for the lucky viewers who can snag tickets.
“We like to call it a Christmas light show because there are literally thousands of fireflies twinkling in the trees,” said Clyde Sorenson, an entomologist from N.C. State University and a leading expert in firefly research.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park has been offering a synchronous firefly viewing event for the past 20 years, and there’s always high demand. In late April, firefly viewing dates will be announced, and you’ll have the opportunity to enter the ticket lottery.
As of just last year, Grandfather Mountain has offered a similar event. In 2019, Sorenson discovered a rare species of synchronous fireflies at Grandfather, which is about two hours closer than Great Smoky Mountain for Triangle residents.
The Congaree National Park firefly viewing lottery closed in mid-April. This year’s synchronous light show in South Carolina — which Sorenson considers to be the most famous of the Carolina firefly events — will be held May 13-16 and May 19-24.
Here’s everything we know about the events and how you can enter the North Carolina lotteries:
How to enter Great Smoky Mountain’s firefly lottery
Here are the estimated dates for the 2023 firefly lottery at Great Smoky Mountain, according to the national park’s website:
Tuesday, April 25: Firefly viewing dates announced.
Friday, April 28: Lottery for vehicle passes opens at 10 a.m. All lottery applicants will be charged a $1 application fee. Successful applicants will be given parking passes, then $24 will be charged to the same credit or debit card used for the application.
Monday, May 1: Lottery for vehicle passes closes at 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 11: All lottery applicants will be notified of their application decision (successful or unsuccessful).
Last year’s viewing dates were between June 3 to June 10.
Viewing information: The firefly viewing event will span eight days, and applicants choose their preferred date with one backup option. Seven people are allowed per vehicle, and 100 passes will be issued per day (800 total).
Location: The viewing will be held near Elkmont Campground in Tennessee. Parking spots are located in the Jakes Creek Trailhead Parking lot, the Appalachian Clubhouse Parking lot and along the exit roadway.
Learn more: Find more information by searching “Synchronous Fireflies” on nps.gov, or searching “The Great Smoky Mountains Firefly Viewing Lottery” on recreation.gov.
If you have additional questions, call 865-436-1261.
How to enter Grandfather Mountain’s firefly lottery
Here’s what’s known about this summer’s firefly viewing event at Grandfather Mountain, according to their website:
Sign up for updates: The event dates will be announced May 23, and tickets will go on sale in the days following this announcement. You can sign up to receive emails about the announcement by visiting grandfather.com/fireflies.
Tickets are $60 for adults and $35 for children (ages 4 and under are free). There are discounted tickets for Grandfather Mountain passholders.
Tickets are limited to six per person, and you can only purchase tickets for one event date.
The first “Grandfather Glows” event was in 2022, allowing the public to see the ever-special Photinus carolinus fireflies with their own eyes.
“Just listen to the name This is a Carolina firefly, which is a cool thing to emphasize,” Sorenson said.
Last year’s viewing dates were June 26, June 29 and July 1. Tickets were $60 for adults and $35 for children (ages 4 and under were free). Participation was limited to 200 attendees.
What are synchronous fireflies?
Synchronous fireflies are part of the few dozen species of fireflies in the Carolinas. The males flash in unison as a mating ritual, illuminating portions of dark forests synchronously.
This all-together practice allows female fireflies to recognize they’re responding to one of their own kind, according to the National Parks Service.
The other firefly species flashing at night may be predatory, so it’s important the females recognize males from her own species.
“The flash pattern of Photinus carolinus is a series of five to eight flashes, followed by a pause of about eight seconds, and then this pattern is repeated. Initially the flashing appears random, but the period of darkness is synchronized,” NPS explained.
“As more males start joining in, the flashing will also begin to synchronize and entire sections of the forest will be pulsating with light.”
This story was originally published April 21, 2023 at 10:26 AM with the headline "There’s high demand for firefly show tickets in NC’s mountains. Here’s how to snag one."
