2024 synchronous firefly event dates released. How you can apply to see it
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park's synchronous fireflies flash in waves across hillsides in the Elkmont region as part of their two-week mating season.. (Tom Sherlin/The Daily Times via AP)
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) announced the 2024 viewing dates of a popular summertime spectacle -- the synchronous firefly event at Elkmont.
Limited viewing will be available from Monday, June 3, through Monday, June 10, to those who receive a vehicle reservation through a lottery system.
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The National Park System says synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are one of 19 firefly species that live in GSMNP and one of only a few species in North America known to synchronize their flashing light patterns as part of their mating display.
Since 2006, the National Park Service has limited access to the Elkmont area to the eight days of predicted peak firefly activity to reduce traffic congestion and minimize impacts to the fireflies during their two-week mating period.
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NPS says the lottery system also ensures everyone who applies for a reservation has an equal chance of getting one.
LOTTERY PROCESS
If you're interested in viewing the fireflies in person, you must enter a lottery at recreation.gov. The lottery opens for reservation applications on Friday, April 26, at 10 a.m. EDT and closes Monday, April 29, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
All lottery applicants will be charged a $1 application fee. Successful applicants will automatically be given reservations and a $24 reservation fee will be charged to the same credit or debit card used for the application fee.
A total of 1120 vehicle reservations (140 per night) will be issued through the lottery process. Recipients are selected at random through a computer drawing.