When is the PA Firefly Festival?

Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29 from 7 pm to Midnight. Subscribe to the PAFF Newsletter at Pafireflyevents.org to get early notification of the online registration links.

Friday, February 8, 2013

PA Firefly Festival place and time information

The first annual PA Firefly Festival events will take place on the grounds of Black Caddis Ranch (BCR) B&B, and the Cabins at Camp Fossil Creek.  The following is a tentative timeline of events:

  • On Friday, 6/21, arrival of campers starts any time after noon.  
  • Saturday, 6/22, there will be events all day for children, special interest groups will have tables to share and display information, family friendly music and entertainment will start in the late afternoon and into the evening.  
  • Sunday, 6/23 clean-up and restoration of campsites. 
  • Both Friday and Saturday night starting at 7pm, there will be an educational seminar about fireflies, and how to best observe them, as well as night hikes to the sites in the forest and/or along the creeks to observe the variety of species. Some of the best displays start after 10 pm and last until 1 am.

The BCR B&B and Cabins at Camp Fossil Creek are available and currently taking reservations. There will be limited tent camping (20 sites) at BCR for $10.00 per night.  The sites are primitive; no electric or water.  Reservations are required for any overnight accommodations.  Contact us at 814-463-7606 or butler.peggy.s@gmail for more information and to make a reservation.

There are several other places in the Kellettville area for camping, including the Flying W Ranch, Kellettville Campground, Minister Creek Campground and primitive sites along the North Country Trail.

Remember, you don't have to camp to observe the fireflies.  You may just want to come for the evening events and view fireflies.  So, bring your lawn chairs, blankets and join us for the evening.


Saturday, February 2, 2013

Announcing the First Annual PA Firefly Festival, June 21-23, 2013.
Annually, in the warm evenings of June in the fields and forests of Pennsylvania, a natural phenomenon takes place that many of us have begun to take for granted.  However, almost 2 years ago, one very observant lady noticed this phenomenon while camping along side the banks of the Branch Creek on the North Country Trail.  Cathy Pedler was that camper, and she wondered if what she was seeing was significant, or just another everyday occurrence. As it turns out, her observation is very significant.

What Cathy observed that night were fireflies blinking in unison.  She went home to search and discovered that some rare species of fireflies are considered synchronous.  Cathy found the leading authority on the synchronous fireflies, Lynn Faust, in Tennessee. Supported by a grant from the Secure Rural Schools in Forest County, Lynn brought her team of scientists from the Universities of Tennessee and Georgia last June to study the fireflies in Forest County.  There are synchronous fireflies in the Smokey Mountains, but never were observed or confirmed to exist outside that area.  So, Lynn and her team came here to study "our" fireflies.

The scientists worked every night for 10 days, observing, collecting and identifying over 17 different species of fireflies in this area including one dubbed the Chinese Lantern.  They were able to confirm, through DNA testing, that indeed some of the fireflies we have in Forest County are the synchronous variety known as Photinus Carolinus.  This is exciting news.

While many of us as children took delight in catching lightning bugs or fireflies in a jar on the summer evenings to light our tents, there seems to more to the firefly than just a twinkling butt.  The humble and harmless firefly is what is known as an indicator species, and is usually a sign of a healthy, well balanced habitat.  We knew we had fireflies in this area, but never knew it was of any significance.  As it turns out, since 1974, the firefly has been designated the official insect of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  We want to insure that this insect gets its due respect, and continues to bring delight to future generations of children of all ages.

The First Annual PA Firefly Festival this coming June will focus on education and observation of the 17 species of fireflies including the synchronous firefly light show and the Chinese Lanterns  on the Tionesta Creek.  There will be plenty of campsites for those who want to stay for the entire weekend, or just bring your lawn chairs and picnic baskets for a Friday or Saturday evening of fun and amazement.  On Saturday afternoon, there will be events for the kids and music.  The planning committee is meeting monthly from now until June, and we will keep you posted about more details and information as it develops.  So, check back here frequently for more updates.