As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, dozens of firefly species will take to the night sky. The South is home to some of the rarest displays, including the spectacular synchronous fireflies. For a few weeks each summer, these little insects put on a coordinated light show, magically flashing simultaneously.
Scientists don’t know the exact reason for it (most guess that it’s related to attracting mates), and it’s only known to happen among a few species. Lucky for us Southerners, two species of synchronous fireflies call the South home. Read on for when and where you can see them!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Tennessee
Location: Elkmont, TN
More Info: nps.gov/grsm
This is probably the most popular firefly viewing event in the South, so you’ll need to plan ahead if you want to see the symphony of synchronous fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For eight days every season, usually beginning in late May to early June, the park shuts down access to the historic Elkmont campground (about 20 minutes from Gatlinburg) to create a safe viewing opportunity that protects the fireflies while lucky visitors enjoy a show to remember.
The park selects attendees via a lottery system a few weeks before the display, but you can still visit the area outside of those dates in hopes of catching it. Consider camping for a night or two, as synchronous firefly displays usually begin after 9 p.m.
Grandfather Mountain | North Carolina
Location: Linville, NC
More Info: grandfather.com
If you live north of the Smokies, Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, is a great alternative to Tennessee for synchronous firefly viewing. Each season, it hosts its Grandfather Glows event to give visitors a magical encounter deep in the northern hardwood forest.
Due to the event’s popularity, there’s a lottery system, and the viewing dates are a bit later in the season than in Tennessee. They take place over three nights, from mid-June through mid-July. Lottery winners head up to MacRae Meadows for the show and are provided with red flashlights. The event is wheelchair accessible, and a shuttle service can assist those in need to the viewing area.
Cradle of Forestry in America | North Carolina
Location: Pisgah Forest, NC
More Info: gofindoutdoors.org
North Carolina is a wonderland when it comes to fireflies. In addition to the synchronous firefly population, you can spot the elusive blue ghost firefly deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains. These fireflies emit a steady glow of greenish-blue light, making them unique compared to their flashing yellow cousins.
Each year, the Cradle of Forestry in America hosts its Blue Ghost Tours, where you can enjoy an informational presentation in an outdoor amphitheater before taking to the trails to witness the glow bugs in action. Tours are usually held throughout late May to early June and sell out quickly. Even so, blue ghosts can be found throughout lower Appalachia; just keep your gaze low as they tend to stick close to the ground.
Congaree National Park | South Carolina
Location: Richland County, SC
More Info: nps.gov/cong
South Carolina residents can catch a synchronous firefly show right in the middle of the state. Congaree National Park hosts a viewing event each spring, usually in mid-May. The park conducts its lottery in early April, and for two weeks, it limits evening visitors to just 145 vehicles per night with a lottery pass.
The team provides red flashlights to borrow during the event and cell phone use is prohibited. Outside of the lottery event, a trip to Congaree is worth it throughout the season to observe the many species of fireflies that call the park home.
Coler Firefly Sanctuary | Arkansas
Location: Benton, AR
More Info: Facebook
In 2024, the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve in Benton, Arkansas, commissioned the Coler Firefly Sanctuary to protect the little lantern bugs from the rapid population growth in the area. It’s the first firefly sanctuary west of the Mississippi, and the acre of protected, pesticide-free land is nestled among the preserve’s 17 miles of bike trails.
During peak firefly season, the sanctuary hosts free firefly walks to help the community experience the wonder of the nightly display. They limit walks to 30 participants to ensure a good experience for visitors and fireflies alike. The walk is ADA-accessible, and red lights are provided.
Blue Spring State Park | Florida
Location: Orange City, FL
More Info: friendsofbluespringstatepark.org
Blue Spring State Park is known as a manatee refuge, but it also hosts a thriving population of fireflies each season. The park is 45 minutes north of Orlando and offers annual firefly nights to maximize the lightning bug display. Not surprisingly, Florida has the earliest firefly season in the South, with its peak typically falling between mid-March and mid-April.
Firefly night participants need to register for the event and purchase an after-hours pass to the park in addition to the daily park entrance fee. Before the guided tour, the park hosts “Fire Fly Chats” at its Thursby House to learn all about the glowing beetles.
Waller Craft Center | Mississippi
Location: Ridgeland, MS
More Info: mscrafts.org
When it comes to creating a night to remember, the Waller Craft Center in Ridgeland, Mississippi, knows how to do it right. It hosts the annual Snappy Sync Soirée each season with music, wine, refreshments, and a guided firefly tour. It also offers firefly tours throughout the season, led by a Mississippi Master Naturalist, to celebrate its native species of synchronous fireflies.
Affectionately nicknamed “Snappy Syncs,” they are the other species of synchronous fireflies in the South, distinct from those in the Smokies.
Get out and enjoy nature’s original glow-up!
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