Synchronous Firefly Lottery at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountain National Park

The synchronous firefly viewing at Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a Bucket List item for any nature lover or budding entomologist. The annual “light show” is part of the firefly mating season and is explained in detail here. Due to the popularity of this event, the National Park System conducts a lottery for parking passes, which allows you the opportunity to enter the park to observe this wonder of nature.

April 25, 2023 they will announce the viewing dates and Friday, April 28th at 10am, the lottery will open on their website. There will be a $1 fee charged for entering the lottery and if you are chosen, an additional $24 will be charged to that card for the balance of the cost of the parking pass.

This is something I have wanted to do for years. I am not local to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but I can’t think of a better excuse for a family road trip. If I win this years lottery, I look forward to sharing all the details with you!

Have you ever applied or won the lottery to see the GSMNP Synchronous Fireflies?

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