Demand high for tickets to firefly spectacular in NC mountains. Here’s how to get one.
Glowing fireflies are about to emerge on Grandfather Mountain to mate, and watching them has become so popular you have to enter a lottery for tickets.
Researchers have confirmed 10 species of fireflies, also called “illumining” insects, including synchronous fireflies, blue ghost fireflies and glowworms, according to Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park and preserve in Linville.
“Synchronous fireflies are habitat specialists and thrive in northern hardwood forests, such as those found at Grandfather Mountain,” according to a park news release announcing upcoming viewing dates. “These glowing wonders only appear for a few weeks each year.”
The park opens part of the 5,946-foot-tall mountain on three nights from mid-June to mid-July for annual Grandfather Glows events. That’s peak time for the bioluminescent displays.
“This event is one of my favorites,” John Caveny, director of conservation and education for the foundation, said in a statement Thursday.
“There’s something special about being on the mountain as the sun sets and watching the forest come alive with the call-and-response flashes from the male and female fireflies.” Caveny said.
The three Grandfather Glows event dates will be announced May 16, and the lottery runs from 12 a.m. Monday, May 19, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, May 25. Lottery entries are $5, plus tax, per person. Only one entry per email address is allowed.
Lottery winners will then be charged $50 per adult and $40 per child to attend the display. Children 3 and under are admitted for free and don’t require a ticket. Lottery winners receive a $5 coupon to use toward their ticket purchase, as a credit for their initial lottery entry.
Ticket lottery and other details: https://grandfather.com/fireflies/.
This story was originally published April 26, 2025 at 1:41 PM.