Enchanting though their effects may be, these tiny creatures make use of a purely scientific trait called bioluminescence. This natural phenomenon isn’t as unique as it may seem either; it’s a common feature of the Lampyridae family.  

Members of this classification include all the glimmering insects we’re familiar with, like fireflies and glowworms, and plenty more. While the exact number of species within the Lampyridae family is unknown, there are upward of 2,000 of which approximately 150 can be found across the United States and Canada. 

As diverse as the Lampyridae family is, all its members are soft-bodied beetles. (Despite their names, yes, even fire-“flies” and glow-“worms” are actually beetles.) Another common trait is that all creatures in this family exhibit bioluminescence, or “glow,” in their larval stage. Some species, like fireflies, exhibit the trait in their adult stage primarily to attract mates and reproduce. Like many insects, too, Lampyridae species have short lives, typically around 60 days, making the light they share with us that much more fleetingly beautiful. 

Viewing the Blue Ghost and Synchronous Fireflies 

There are a couple notable celebrations of these radiant emblems of summer in the North Carolina mountains. Both require advance planning to attend, but there’s still time to sign up for these events. Act quickly, cross your fingers, and make a wish you’ll catch one of nature’s most spectacular seasonal shows. 

Grandfather Glows 

Grandfather Mountain, owned and operated by Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is home to the famous Swinging Bridge, animal habitats, and Wilson Center, which houses a variety of fantastic educational resources. Park officials want visitors to know that there’s much more to the mountain than bears and bridges. 

For three nights between mid-June and mid-July, the nature park stays open after dark for an unforgettable observation event called Grandfather Glows. The dates, which will be announced on May 16, are forecasted to align with the optimal viewing times for the ten confirmed species of luminous insects on the mountain. These include synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus), Blue Ghost fireflies (Phausis reticulata), and glowworms (Orfelia fultoni), or as some call them, foxfire worms. 

While all lustrous insects are stars of this show, Grandfather Glows particularly features synchronous fireflies, which are “habitat specialists [that] thrive in northern hardwood forests, such as those found at Grandfather Mountain,” according to the park. This rare species, as their name suggests, synchronize their flashes when appearing in a multitude to create a harmonious concert of light. 

John Caveny, Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Director of Conservation and Education, explains that the mountain’s wealth of biodiversity and occurrence of natural phenomena is caused by its unique terrain.  

“There are 16 distinct ecological communities within 2,000 feet on Grandfather Mountain. That’s the same number of ecological communities you’ll pass through on a drive from Georgia to Maine,” Caveny said.  

A lottery for tickets to this summer’s Grandfather Glows opens May 19 and runs through May 25. A lottery entry costs $5 plus tax with submissions limited to one entry per email address. Should you receive tickets, your entry fee with go toward the price of admission.  

The first round of winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 27 and the second round on Tuesday, June 3. Winners may purchase up to six (6) tickets. For more information on the event’s ticket lottery, pricing, and logistics, visit the Grandfather Glows website. 

Blue Ghosts in Pisgah Cradle of Forestry 

Blue Ghost fireflies are a seemingly reclusive wonder, but we, who live in this part of the world, are lucky they, too, call it home. Unlike their flashing cousins, these fireflies emit a sustained blue glow as they hover low over the forest floor.  

Dr. Jennifer Frick-Ruppert, Brevard College’s Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty and Dalton Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, is one of the nation’s premier Blue Ghost researchers. She says that Blue Ghosts may already be in a forest near you if you live in the mountains and know how to search for them. 

“Blue Ghost fireflies are specialists of the Southern Appalachians and only occur in our region, but they are more common in this area than most people think,” Dr. Frick-Ruppert said. “You must get out into the forest in May or June at night in order to see them, and most people just don't do that. I've even had friends who are long-term residents of the region that have never seen them.” 

Dr. Frick-Ruppert elaborates that Blue Ghosts have different habitat requirements than more familiar species of fireflies. According to her, Blue Ghosts thrive in leaf litter on the ground and require moisture, so they are more likely to be spotted in forests with small, winding creeks rather than high atop ridgelines.  

She continued to state that Blue Ghosts also have a different biology from other firefly species that make them more sensitive to external environmental factors.  

“They are small and the females are wingless, so they cannot easily colonize areas once they are removed. I'm not sure how much the wildfires will affect them, because it depends on how deeply the leaf litter layer was burned,” Dr. Frick-Ruppert said referring to the wildfires that burned throughout Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina in March 2025. “They can dig down into the soil and remain safely insulated from surface?fires, but if the fires were very hot and burned deeply into soil, the?Ghosts could be eradicated.” 

While we hope, if such is the case, the Blue Ghost population recovers in areas affected by the wildfires along the border of the Carolinas, this exceptional species will still be prominent in parts of the Southern Appalachians beyond the fires’ reach.  

“If you live in the region and have undisturbed forest around you, you likely have Blue Ghosts,” Dr. Frick-Ruppert said. “Where you won't see them is where most people are. They are not on grassy lawns like the flashing firefly species; you can't see them if you are driving or even looking out of your windows at night because their lights are dim in comparison to artificial lights; and they are not in areas outside of healthy forests, so they’re not in areas with pavement, grassy fields, cleared land, et cetera.” 

As mentioned earlier, Grandfather Glows plans to highlight Blue Ghosts during its annual event. Another local option to view them is the Pisgah National Forest’s Cradle of Forestry in America Blue Ghost Tours. Tickets are still available for several dates in late May and early June on the Blue Ghost Tours website.  

Gates for each Cradle of Forestry in America session open at 8 p.m. and the tour lasts until 10:30 p.m. Sessions of this popular event are capped at 150 participants, and the tour goes on rain or shine for the date you select, so pick up your tickets while they’re still available! Above photo taken along the Blue Ridge Parkway features Blue Ghost Fireflies.

More Options for Next Summer’s Calendar 

Several other parks in the region host summer firefly viewings. Their ticket lotteries or sign-ups have already closed for this year, but we’ll mention them here so you can go ahead and pencil it on your 2026 calendar.  

Congaree National Park outside of Columbia, South Carolina, has synchronous firefly viewings lasting approximately two weeks between mid-May and mid-June. Enter its ticket lottery, typically in early April, so that you’ll have a chance to watch this phenomenon in the nation’s newest national park. For more information, go to the event’s website. 

Elkmont Campground within Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosts an eight-night firefly viewing for park vehicles reservation holders and campground reservation holders. Synchronous fireflies are the focal point of this observation as well. Again, tickets are obtained through a lottery that usually opens approximately one month prior to the event’s late-May through early-June dates. Learn more HERE. 

There are additional options for Asheville-area private tours and observation opportunities outside of organized group settings in Western North Carolina. These vary in theme and are more intimate, but most take place early- through mid-May and require a sign-up. Find out more about them here. 

Tips for Your Travels 

As a courtesy to other observers and for the protection of natural habitats, here are a few important guidelines to observe during your firefly viewing sessions in public spaces: 

• Don’t attempt photography. Artificial light flashes disturb these nocturnal insects as well as other viewers, plus fireflies are nearly impossible to capture on camera. Enjoy the experience with your eyes so that it imprints on your memory! 
• Use ONLY a special red-light flashlight. Regular flashlights prevent other observers’ eyes from adjusting to night conditions so that they might better spot fireflies and disrupt the viewing itself.  
• Bring a rain jacket and wear comfortable, appropriate footwear. Dress for chilly and often temperamental night conditions on the mountain. Do not wear your summer sandals despite the season as you’ll be walking in low- or no-light conditions. 
• Stay on the trails. Wandering off-trail to scout a seemingly better viewing position can harm the habitats of the very fireflies you’re there to see as well as those of other flora and fauna. 
• Keep an open mind and a sense of wonder. While host organizations make their best effort to forecast peak firefly viewing times, no one can coerce nature. Appreciate what you see – not matter the number – as well as the experience itself. 

Bonus Tip: If you’re traveling from off-the-mountain, or even if you’re a local who’s planning an evening out before taking in the light show at the park, please, remember that our mountain businesses are OPEN and need your patronage now more than ever after missing the prime tourism season last fall due to Hurricane Helene.  

Other businesses that were damaged by the storm may still be struggling to repair, restock, and restaff, but they are making their best effort to keep the lights on. In short, our neighbors’ livelihoods depend on YOU!  

We encourage you to spend a long summer weekend in the mountains. Book a room in a hotel or bed and breakfast, dine out in our cafes, restaurants, and breweries, shop in our downtowns, and, of course, enjoy the landscapes and scenery that we’re known for. There may still be some very specific trail and park closures, but the vast majority of sites you’ll want to visit are OPEN.  

Best of all, if you can swing it, take your entire summer vacation in the mountains to enjoy being a tourist, an adventurer, and, also, a volunteer! Several regional non-profits continue to organize volunteer-driven clean-up efforts. Most require a little advance planning to schedule your place in a group session, but we promise the extra effort is entirely worth it. We at the Mast Store have tried to do our part to help anyone who’s interested in volunteering by compiling an up-to-date resource guide here. Keep in mind, however, that organizations’ needs change quickly, and it’s best to contact any groups you’re interested in volunteering with directly to determine where you might make the biggest impact at the time of your volun-cation. 

Distinctive species of fireflies are, quite literally, small but vital reminders that the mountains have so much to offer. Their terrain creates not only unmistakable beauty but also dynamic habitats for species that are found in few other places – if any others, at all – in the world. After months of floods and fires in the Appalachians, let’s get back to visiting the mountains and appreciating their simple treasures, like how the tiniest creatures shine hopeful lights on friends, neighbors, and travelers alike.