{"id":201,"date":"2017-04-02T23:05:40","date_gmt":"2017-04-02T14:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/?p=201"},"modified":"2017-04-09T00:27:18","modified_gmt":"2017-04-08T15:27:18","slug":"an-annual-light-show-presented-by-the-synchronized-fireflies-in-great-smoky-mountains-national-park-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/2017\/04\/02\/an-annual-light-show-presented-by-the-synchronized-fireflies-in-great-smoky-mountains-national-park-usa\/","title":{"rendered":"An annual light show presented by the synchronized fireflies in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"envira-gallery-wrap-220\" class=\"envira-gallery-wrap envira-gallery-theme-base envira-lightbox-theme-base\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageGallery\"><div data-row-height=\"150\" data-gallery-theme=\"normal\" id=\"envira-gallery-220\" class=\"envira-gallery-public envira-gallery-justified-public envira-gallery-0-columns envira-clear enviratope envira-gallery-css-animations\" data-envira-columns=\"0\"><div id=\"envira-gallery-item-221\" class=\"envira-gallery-item enviratope-item envira-gallery-item-1\" style=\"padding-left: 5px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-right: 5px;\"  itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-item-inner\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-right\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-right\"><\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/2016.jpg\" class=\"envira-gallery-220 envira-gallery-link\" rel=\"enviragallery220\" title=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park 2\" data-envira-caption=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park 2\" data-envira-retina=\"\" data-thumbnail=\"\"  itemprop=\"contentUrl\"><img id=\"envira-gallery-image-221\" class=\"envira-gallery-image envira-gallery-image-1 envira-normal \" data-envira-index=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7100-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" data-envira-src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7100-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" data-envira-gallery-id=\"220\" data-envira-item-id=\"221\" data-envira-caption=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park 2\" alt=\"Synchronous Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" title=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park 2\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" data-envira-srcset=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7100-1024x678-640x480.jpg 400w,https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7100-1024x678-640x480.jpg 2x\" data-envira-width=\"300\" data-envira-height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7100-1280x960.jpg 2x\" data-safe-src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7100-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div id=\"envira-gallery-item-222\" class=\"envira-gallery-item enviratope-item envira-gallery-item-2\" style=\"padding-left: 5px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-right: 5px;\"  itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-item-inner\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-right\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-right\"><\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7095.jpg\" class=\"envira-gallery-220 envira-gallery-link\" rel=\"enviragallery220\" title=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park 3\" data-envira-caption=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park 3\" data-envira-retina=\"\" data-thumbnail=\"\"  itemprop=\"contentUrl\"><img id=\"envira-gallery-image-222\" class=\"envira-gallery-image envira-gallery-image-2 envira-normal \" data-envira-index=\"2\" src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7095-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" data-envira-src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7095-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" data-envira-gallery-id=\"220\" data-envira-item-id=\"222\" data-envira-caption=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park 3\" alt=\"Synchronous Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" title=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park 3\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" data-envira-srcset=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7095-1024x678-640x480.jpg 400w,https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7095-1024x678-640x480.jpg 2x\" data-envira-width=\"300\" data-envira-height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7095-1280x960.jpg 2x\" data-safe-src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7095-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div id=\"envira-gallery-item-223\" class=\"envira-gallery-item enviratope-item envira-gallery-item-3\" style=\"padding-left: 5px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-right: 5px;\"  itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-item-inner\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-right\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-right\"><\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7086.jpg\" class=\"envira-gallery-220 envira-gallery-link\" rel=\"enviragallery220\" title=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" data-envira-caption=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" data-envira-retina=\"\" data-thumbnail=\"\"  itemprop=\"contentUrl\"><img id=\"envira-gallery-image-223\" class=\"envira-gallery-image envira-gallery-image-3 envira-normal \" data-envira-index=\"3\" src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7086-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" data-envira-src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7086-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" data-envira-gallery-id=\"220\" data-envira-item-id=\"223\" data-envira-caption=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" alt=\"Synchronous Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" title=\"2014 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" data-envira-srcset=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7086-1024x678-640x480.jpg 400w,https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7086-1024x678-640x480.jpg 2x\" data-envira-width=\"300\" data-envira-height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7086-1280x960.jpg 2x\" data-safe-src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7086-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div id=\"envira-gallery-item-224\" class=\"envira-gallery-item enviratope-item envira-gallery-item-4\" style=\"padding-left: 5px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-right: 5px;\"  itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-item-inner\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-right\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-right\"><\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/2016.jpg\" class=\"envira-gallery-220 envira-gallery-link\" rel=\"enviragallery220\" title=\"2016 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" data-envira-caption=\"2016 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" data-envira-retina=\"\" data-thumbnail=\"\"  itemprop=\"contentUrl\"><img id=\"envira-gallery-image-224\" class=\"envira-gallery-image envira-gallery-image-4 envira-normal \" data-envira-index=\"4\" src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/2016-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" data-envira-src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/2016-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" data-envira-gallery-id=\"220\" data-envira-item-id=\"224\" data-envira-caption=\"2016 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" alt=\"Synchronous Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" title=\"2016 Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" data-envira-srcset=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/2016-1024x678-640x480.jpg 400w,https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/2016-1024x678-640x480.jpg 2x\" data-envira-width=\"300\" data-envira-height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/2016-1280x960.jpg 2x\" data-safe-src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/2016-1024x678-640x480.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><noscript><img src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7100.jpg\" alt=\"Synchronous Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" \/><img src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7095.jpg\" alt=\"Synchronous Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" \/><img src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/XUN_7086.jpg\" alt=\"Synchronous Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" \/><img src=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/04\/2016.jpg\" alt=\"Synchronous Fireflies in Great Smoky National Park\" \/><\/noscript>\n<p>The warm wind reminds me that it&#8217;s almost the time to reserve tickets for a special light show in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. \u00a0 This show is presented by small insects that all of you are familiar with &#8211; fireflies. \u00a0I guess everybody has good memories of pointing out fireflies in the backyards in summer evernings. \u00a0Those sudden light ups are like shooting stars&#8230; And if there are a lot of fireflies, they look like Christmas lights.<\/p>\n<p>There is one special species of fireflies living in the smokies. \u00a0They are called synchronized fireflies! \u00a0As you can guess from the name, these fireflies flash\u00a0together. \u00a0Isn&#8217;t that amazing? \u00a0How do they communicate to each other? \u00a0Why do they synchronize? \u00a0They are certainly not doing this show for us&#8230; \u00a0I heard it&#8217;s for their mating, but I am not sure why the synchronization is important. \u00a0 There are information elsewhere, here I want to talk about my four years&#8217; experience on watching their show &#8211; more specifically, how to get a ticket, what to prepare before going, how to get there, and what to expect to see.<\/p>\n<p>So, the most important thing is to get a ticket! \u00a0The mating season of the fireflies lasts about two weeks. \u00a0Based on the weather, the National Park Service (NPS) will estimate and announce a 8\/9 days window for the peak flashing (late May to mid June) of the synchronized fireflies. \u00a0The announcement is usually made a few days before <strong>April 30th<\/strong>. \u00a0Please check their website for the dates! \u00a0Before 2016, part of the tickets (&#8220;Advanced Tickets) were distributed online at 10am EST on April 30th. \u00a0And those tickets were gone within three minutes! \u00a0 The rest of the tickets were called something like &#8220;day before tickets&#8221; (you get it today and go tomorrow), and were available through phone calls on a first-come-first-serve basis. \u00a0I have had success with both methods. \u00a0The key was to be\u00a0prepared! \u00a0No waste of one second. \u00a0I could share some\u00a0tips, but they have already changed the rules! \u00a0<strong>Since 2016, all the tickets are distributed via a lottery system!\u00a0<\/strong>Basically, they open the lottery in the end of April, and close it in two\/three days. \u00a0A week or so after the closing date, people will be notified of\u00a0the lottery results.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Last year, I was lucky! \u00a0Since you can only choose two days in the application, my philosophy\u00a0was to <strong>avoid the weekends<\/strong> so that the chance would be much higher. \u00a0If you are unlucky, there is another way to get to see the show &#8211; camping at <strong>Elkmont Campground<\/strong>! \u00a0From the campground, you can simply\u00a0walk to the site to see the\u00a0synchronized fireflies. \u00a0Remember that those camp sites are also filled quickly. \u00a0But\u00a0don&#8217;t be too frustrated if you couldn&#8217;t get the date you want. \u00a0Check back often in case there&#8217;s cancelation.<\/p>\n<p>Now let&#8217;s come back to the &#8220;normal&#8221; tickets. \u00a0I haven&#8217;t told you that the tickets are actually <strong>parking tickets<\/strong>! \u00a0Most of the tickets are for standard cars, and up to six people are allowed for one car. \u00a0There are a few tickets for busses, which can take more people. \u00a0You need to drive to Sugarland Visitor Center. \u00a0There will be\u00a0officers doing traffic control and ticket admission. \u00a0 Only the cars with tickets are allowed to park at\u00a0the visitor center. \u00a0One car one ticket (the confirmation email that NPS sends out), and the ticket holder must be in the car. \u00a0The officer will count people in the car, and give a <strong>trolley ticket<\/strong> to each person. \u00a0After parking the car, you get into the line (there&#8217;ll be a line, a long line) for the trolley. \u00a0You need the trolley ticket and 1$ to board the trolley. \u00a0I think the trolley starts to take people to the Elkmont area from 7-ish. \u00a0Except for campers, no private car can access the Elkmont area during the show days (the 8\/9 days for the\u00a0synchronized fireflies).<\/p>\n<p>The trolleys will take you to the Elkmont area. \u00a0From there, just follow the crowd. \u00a0At the entrance, you will be given a handout introducing the\u00a0synchronized fireflies. \u00a0You can also get a piece of red cellophane and a rubber band to cover your\u00a0flashlight\/phone. \u00a0This is very important, as the white light will disturb and confuse the fireflies! \u00a0You are there to see the show, not to be part of it.<\/p>\n<p>Since it&#8217;s early June, the sky does not get dark until <strong>9pm<\/strong>. \u00a0You will have plenty of time hanging around and looking for a good spot. \u00a0You probably want to take a light and foldable chair with you \ud83d\ude42 \u00a0Not a bad idea to have a picnic there.<\/p>\n<p>You sit down, and wonder what the show will be like&#8230; While the sky gets darker and darker, you see more and more white\u00a0dots flashing (somehow yellow in photos). \u00a0At the beginning, they are not synchronized. \u00a0But as the show proceeds\u00a0to peak time, you will see a wave of flashing. \u00a0I mean, not all the fireflies are synchronized to one rhythm. \u00a0It&#8217;s more like: this region of fireflies synchronized to this rhythm, and that region of fireflies synchronized to that rhythm. \u00a0Another thing is that those fireflies have\u00a0different levels of performance in the 8\/9 days window. \u00a0I have seen the light show six times (once or twice a year), and I can tell there&#8217;s clearly a difference (sometimes a big difference)! \u00a0Nevertheless, it&#8217;s always an incredible experience.<\/p>\n<p>Being immersed in flashings, you will forget about the time! \u00a0And soon you realize that people are leaving. \u00a0When you get back to the entrance (where the trolley drops you), there&#8217;s a long long line. \u00a0We have once waited for more than an hour. \u00a0So, might be a good idea to slowly move towards the entrance between 10 and\u00a010:30.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, I just want to say that be nice to the fireflies, and be nice to people. \u00a0Don&#8217;t do things that you don&#8217;t want other people do to you. \u00a0Pay attention to your flashlight and phone!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>X<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The warm wind reminds me that it&#8217;s almost the time to reserve tickets for a special light show in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. \u00a0 This show is presented by small insects that all of you are familiar with &#8211; fireflies. \u00a0I guess everybody has good memories of pointing out fireflies in the backyards &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/2017\/04\/02\/an-annual-light-show-presented-by-the-synchronized-fireflies-in-great-smoky-mountains-national-park-usa\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;An annual light show presented by the synchronized fireflies in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50,6,27],"tags":[15,54],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=201"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":233,"href":"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201\/revisions\/233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dxlontheroad.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}