{"id":7008,"date":"2025-03-31T18:51:07","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T18:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/31\/congaree-national-park-announces-dates-for-2025-firefly-viewing-event\/"},"modified":"2025-03-31T18:51:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T18:51:07","slug":"congaree-national-park-announces-dates-for-2025-firefly-viewing-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/31\/congaree-national-park-announces-dates-for-2025-firefly-viewing-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Congaree National Park Announces Dates for 2025 Firefly Viewing Event"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"\" data-start=\"81\" data-end=\"409\"><strong data-start=\"81\" data-end=\"98\">HOPKINS, S.C.<\/strong> &ndash; Nature lovers, mark your calendars! Congaree National Park has announced the dates for its 2025 Synchronized Firefly Viewing Event, set to take place May 14 &ndash; 21. This mesmerizing display of bioluminescence draws thousands of visitors each year to witness fireflies flashing in perfect harmony.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"411\" data-end=\"434\"><strong data-start=\"415\" data-end=\"432\">How to Attend<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"435\" data-end=\"616\">Due to high demand, passes will be required for entry on event nights and will be distributed through a lottery system on Recreation.gov. Here&rsquo;s what you need to know:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"618\" data-end=\"1020\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"618\" data-end=\"663\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"620\" data-end=\"663\"><strong data-start=\"620\" data-end=\"638\">Lottery Opens:<\/strong> April 3 at 10 a.m. EDT<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"664\" data-end=\"710\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"666\" data-end=\"710\"><strong data-start=\"666\" data-end=\"685\">Lottery Closes:<\/strong> April 9 at 10 a.m. EDT<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"711\" data-end=\"761\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"713\" data-end=\"761\"><strong data-start=\"713\" data-end=\"729\">Lottery Fee:<\/strong> $1 non-refundable service fee<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"762\" data-end=\"826\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"764\" data-end=\"826\"><strong data-start=\"764\" data-end=\"792\">Pass Cost (if selected):<\/strong> $19 event fee (total cost: $20)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"827\" data-end=\"885\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"829\" data-end=\"885\"><strong data-start=\"829\" data-end=\"852\">Pass Notifications:<\/strong> Sent to applicants on April 16<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"886\" data-end=\"928\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"888\" data-end=\"928\"><strong data-start=\"888\" data-end=\"903\">Pass Limit:<\/strong> 145 vehicles per night<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"1020\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"931\" data-end=\"1020\"><strong data-start=\"931\" data-end=\"956\">Vehicle Requirements:<\/strong> Standard passenger vehicles only (no RVs, trailers, or buses)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1022\" data-end=\"1187\">Pass holders will be allowed entry between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on their designated night. The pass is valid for one-time use only and is non-transferable.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1189\" data-end=\"1219\"><strong data-start=\"1193\" data-end=\"1217\">What&rsquo;s New for 2025?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1220\" data-end=\"1345\">Congaree has made a few modifications this year to enhance the visitor experience while protecting the firefly habitat:<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1347\" data-end=\"1653\"><strong data-start=\"1349\" data-end=\"1367\">Better Timing:<\/strong> Event dates have been scheduled to <strong data-start=\"1403\" data-end=\"1446\">align with peak firefly synchronization<\/strong>, increasing the chances of optimal viewing.<br data-start=\"1490\" data-end=\"1493\" \/><strong data-start=\"1495\" data-end=\"1510\">Lower Fees:<\/strong> The event fee has <strong data-start=\"1529\" data-end=\"1548\">decreased by $5<\/strong>, with <strong data-start=\"1555\" data-end=\"1579\">red-lens flashlights<\/strong> provided to guests for <strong data-start=\"1603\" data-end=\"1624\">borrow and return<\/strong> to reduce light pollution.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1655\" data-end=\"1693\"><strong data-start=\"1659\" data-end=\"1691\">Park Closures &amp; Restrictions<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1694\" data-end=\"1836\">To protect the delicate firefly habitat, several areas of the park will <strong data-start=\"1766\" data-end=\"1794\">close daily at 4:30 p.m.<\/strong> during the event period. These include:<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1838\" data-end=\"2131\">&#x1f6ab; <strong data-start=\"1841\" data-end=\"1903\">Harry Hampton Visitor Center, Boardwalk, and Hiking Trails<\/strong><br data-start=\"1903\" data-end=\"1906\" \/>&#x1f6ab; <strong data-start=\"1909\" data-end=\"1942\">Bannister Bridge Canoe Launch<\/strong><br data-start=\"1942\" data-end=\"1945\" \/>&#x1f6ab; <strong data-start=\"1948\" data-end=\"2016\">Cedar Creek (Bannister Bridge to South Cedar Creek Canoe Launch)<\/strong><br data-start=\"2016\" data-end=\"2019\" \/>&#x1f6ab; <strong data-start=\"2022\" data-end=\"2056\">Longleaf and Bluff Campgrounds<\/strong><br data-start=\"2056\" data-end=\"2059\" \/>&#x1f6ab; <strong data-start=\"2062\" data-end=\"2096\">No Backcountry Camping Permits<\/strong> will be issued during the event.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2133\" data-end=\"2158\"><strong data-start=\"2137\" data-end=\"2156\">Plan Your Visit<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2159\" data-end=\"2321\">For the most <strong data-start=\"2172\" data-end=\"2198\">up-to-date information<\/strong> on passes, event details, and park closures, visit <strong data-start=\"2250\" data-end=\"2318\"><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/cong\/fireflies.htm\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"2252\" data-end=\"2316\">nps.gov\/cong\/fireflies<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2323\" data-end=\"2405\">Don&#8217;t miss your chance to experience one of nature&rsquo;s most magical light shows!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HOPKINS, S.C. &ndash; Nature lovers, mark your calendars! Congaree National Park has announced the dates for its 2025 Synchronized Firefly Viewing Event, set to take place May 14 &ndash; 21. This mesmerizing display of bioluminescence draws thousands of visitors each year to witness fireflies flashing in perfect harmony. How to<span class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/31\/congaree-national-park-announces-dates-for-2025-firefly-viewing-event\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[31,32],"tags":[145,740],"class_list":["entry","author-john-griggs","post-7008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-community-news","category-events","tag-congaree-national-park","tag-fireflies"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gpstrianglenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/CongareeFireflies_2021_630x350.jpg?fit=630%2C350","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7008"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7008\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/gpstrianglenews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}