The 12th Annual PA Firefly Festival, June 28 and June 29, 2024

Monday, July 14, 2014

Time Lapse

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7bMkxiti8QxTXdydGVtUmktbnc/edit Here's a Time-lapsed video that Sam and Justin made of the field during the music festival.

2014 Festival Photos

Here are some photos from this year's festival.

FYI, the synchronous firefly season has officially ended here in Kellettville. We saw a dozen or so the weekend of the July 5th, but by that Tuesday night there were none. We are still seeing the common fireflies in the fields and trees, and they are putting on a great show in the fields around Tionesta after 9:00 pm.

We are already planning for next year's 3rd Annual PAFF on the 4th Saturday in June, 2015.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Glowing SUCCESS!!

The weekend was a big SUCCESS! We couldn't have asked for better weather. The registered attendance was 522. The late comers brings the estimated attendance to at least 600. We sold out all the adult Large, XL and 2X t-shirts, and the donations kept coming in. We had 24 tents, and 2 full cabins. The music was fantastic and very entertaining. The variety of food and drinks satisfied all the appetites, and the arts & craft vendors added some fun unique items. The grand finale' was the fireflies themselves, and they put on quite a show for those willing to venture into the dark forest late at night.

Sunday morning clean-up was surprisingly easy, because everyone picked-up after themselves. There was virtually NO LITTER left behind in the field or lawn. We are so impressed by the attendees thoughtful courtesy and stewardship of the area. We hope you will join us next year at the 3rd Annual PAFF on the 4th Saturday in June.

We will have some photos and video to post soon.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

The Countdown Is ON!

7 days left. The fireflies are synchronizing right now. We've been going out into the camp and on the bridge this weekend. We've witnessed synchronous displays, Chinese Lanterns and Fast Fives in all locations.

The word is spreading quickly, and we've had some nice articles and radio interviews creating a real buzz. We can't wait to see what all this does for the festival. We've had a couple more food vendors and arts & crafters join the ranks as well.

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/travel/2014/06/22/At-Firefly-Festival-near-Tionesta-thousands-of-bugs-will-be-blinking-in-sync/stories/2014061101

http://www.wesb.com/listen/

http://www.alleghenyfront.org/story/fireflies-give-brilliant-show-allegheny-national-forest

Please note: the Allegheny National Forest is considered a wilderness area. Your participation in the activities at the festival are at your own risk.

You will be in areas that are not readily accessible, and require some level of physical strength and ability. If you have physical limitations, let us know when you arrive, so that we can try to provide some access accommodations.
If you have young children, please keep them close, and well supervised, especially around the creeks and after dark.
Dogs must be leashed at all times and under control. Dog owners are responsible for picking up and disposing of any excrement. Excessive barking or loose dogs will be asked to leave.
Please, use the trash boxes provided for all litter.
Be sure to bring a lawn/camp chair, dress appropriately for the weather and hiking. Sunscreen and bug spray are highly recommended.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

We are a GLOW!!

Despite the recent flash flood in the Kelletville area, we will be ready for the festival. Route 666 did get washed out in a number of spots east of the Black Caddis Ranch. Don't worry, we are OPEN and accessible from the west end of Route 666 in East Hickory (see the directions and alternate routes to the left).

The good news is: we are getting reports of the start of Synchronous firefly activity. The mGDDs are climbing, and this means we are on track for a peak the week of the festival. Some of the soft signs include the blooming of crown vetch. We have buds on the day lilies and the blueberries are weeks away from ripening. This late spring has been good for our plans to have the festival a week later.

Give us a call at 814-463-7606 or contact us at pafireflyfestival@gmail.com for more information.

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Firefly Speak

A GLOSSARY OF FIREFLY TERMS

ABDOMEN The third and last section of an insect body. Fireflies have their light organs located in their abdomen.

COLEOPTERA The classification name (Order) for the insects known as beetles. Fireflies belong to this Order.

DIURNAL Active during the daylight hours. As opposed to nocturnal. Some firefly species are diurnal.

ECLOSE to emerge, as when an adult FF emerges from the pupa cocoon.

ELYTRON (plural – elytra) The hard wing cover that protects the firefly wings. Elytra are a shared characteristic with all beetles.

ENTOMOLOGY The study of insects.

LAMPYRIDAE - The classification name (Family) of beetles that include the fireflies. Over 2000 species of Lampyridae are known in the world.

PHEROMONE A chemical released in the air by insects to attract mates. Some firefly species use pheromones instead of light signals for mating.

PRONOTUM A shield-like plate that covers the head of fireflies.

THORAX The middle section of an insect body.

Synchronous Fireflies and more

The Photinus carolinus, aka as the "Synchronous Firefly", was identified and confirmed to be in the Allegheny National Forest during the summer of 2012. A team of world-class Firefly scientists from Tennessee and Georgia came to Black Caddis Ranch for 10 days, and traveled throughout the ANF collecting specimens and studying the diversity of fireflies.

The P. carolinus is unique in that the males' flash patterns are in synchrony with each other, so they appear to be like a string of Christmas lights hanging in the forest. Other witnesses have likened it to camera flashbulbs at a sporting event. One of the other confirmed habitats in North America is in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee where 1000s of visitors line up nightly for 10 nights to see this phenomenon. More populations are being confirmed each year stretching from Georgia to New York along the Appalachian Ridge. The Synchronous fireflies are in abundance throughout the Allegheny National Forest and can be seen in the ANF recreation areas starting mid-June through early July.

Over 15 different species were identified and described along with the Synchronous. One other local species was a Photuris species dubbed the"Chinese Lanterns" by the scientists. These were observed floating across the Tionesta creek casting their glow onto the water.

Starting around July 4 to the middle of August, the "Big Dipper", Photinus pyralis, begin their displays in the fields and yards all over NW PA. They can put on quite a natural fireworks show from dusk around 9 pm to 9:45 pm. Whichever species you witness during the approximately 4-6 week season, you can be sure to have a moment of awe and wonder at this display of nature.

The season is highly dependent on weather and temperatures. We watch several different factors (both scientific hard data and "soft signs"). Follow us on Facebook for updates as the season begins and progresses in 2022.