March updates

The Annual Pennsylvania Firefly Festival (PAFF) is announcing some exciting new opportunities for this year’s firefly season in Forest County.  Once again, the 5^th Annual PAFF is on June 24 from noon to midnight.  Last year, we had 1100 enthusiastic visitors in one night.  This year, we hope to spread this enthusiasm over multiple nights to provide more opportunities to firefly enthusiasts. 

PAFF's primary mission is to educate the public about diverse species of fireflies in our area through providing opportunities to witness the “natural light show”.  To that end, we will be requiring reservations for the firefly walks at the festival, and offering up to 14 additional nights of guided firefly walks. By providing extra nights of viewing and limiting the crowd size on June 24, we hope to optimize the viewers’ experience while we protect the firefly habitats from overuse.  

Here are some of the planned events and changes that you will want to mark on your calendars:       

•  Locals’ Night, Wednesday, June 14 (rain date June 16), 9pm-11pm
•  Nightly guided firefly walks to benefit PAFF starting June 16 – July 1, 9pm-11pm (some exclusions apply)
•   “Silent Sparks” PAFF benefit, Wednesday, June 21, at West Forest High School, 6:15-              8:30pm, firefly expert and author, Dr. Sara Lewis will make a presentation.
•  5^th Annual PA Firefly Festival, Saturday, June 24, noon – midnight, free firefly walks, and the new VIP Synchronous Firefly Experience.

This year the firefly walks at the festival will require reservations.  Details for making your reservations and for all the events can be found on the website, pafireflyfestival.org or call 814-230-2035 for more information.  

The most exciting addition this year is a special presentation by Dr. Sara Lewis author of Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies.  Dr. Lewis will be at West Forest High School on June 21.  This will be a benefit for the PA Firefly Festival, and donations will be accepted at the door.  Dr. Lewis will present a multi-media inspirational message about her firefly experience.  She will take questions from the audience and be on-hand to sign books. 

We hope you will find an evening to come watch the fireflies in the forest this June.