14th Annual PA Firefly Festival Guided Tour Night #1

Celebration of the Annual Firefly mating displays in Tionesta, PA: Please read the following completely and carefully before you register.

Congratulations on being selected to attend the 14th Annual PA Firefly Festival & the Guided Firefly Tour! The program and tour will be held on Friday, June 26, 2026 at the Tionesta Lake, Visitor Center, (Spillway Road, Tionesta, 16353). Parking onsite is FREE. Gates open at 7 pm for check-in of registered patrons. Patrons should check in by 8:00 pm, the program will begin at 8:15 with a 45-minute presentation from a firefly expert prior to the guided firefly walks.

IMPORTANT: Register using the SAME NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS of the individual whose name was selected in the lottery. Please respect the lottery process, and DO NOT register unless you entered the lottery, and were notified by PA Firefly Festival that you were selected. We reserve the right to deny registration to names and emails that are not on the lottery list. Contact Pafireflyfestival@gmail.com if you have questions.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU REGISTER :

At check-in, you and your party will receive wristbands. The educational program will begin with the whole group at 8:15 pm while we wait for it to get dark enough for fireflies. You will learn about the firefly life cycle, behavior and habitats. We will also provide Leave No Trace information to use during the firefly walks, and ways you can help protect fireflies in the forest or in your own backyard. The firefly walk is an easy 30-minute out-and-back on a paved surface.* Trained guides and volunteers will lead small groups to and from the route. You may bring a camp chair, and stop along the route to sit and view at any point. You may depart from the event at any time you choose. The event will conclude at 11:00 pm. All participants will be asked to exit the park at that time.

This event is intended for seventy-five (75) of the most curious of nature lovers. Families with school-age children are welcome. The event is not intended for children under 5 years of age.  BE AWARE: Young children (and some people with neurodivergent sensory issues) often find the dark forest uncomfortable. This can lead to disruption of what is meant to be a peaceful viewing experience for everyone. Parents and caregivers should consider this and plan accordingly.

There will be NO FOOD OR BEVERAGES served at this event. We encourage you to patronize the food vendors at the Tionesta Market Village or one of the local restaurants in the area before you arrive or bring a picnic. The site of this event is a US Army Corps of Engineers Project and Alcoholic Beverages are NOT permitted on the property.

For lodging in the area, check our website pafireflyevents.org/area-lodging, the ForestCounty.com or for camping visit recreation.gov . We recommend securing your reservation as soon as possible.

The PA Firefly Festival is a RAIN-OR-SHINE event. The weather in Forest County is unpredictable and passing showers happen frequently in June, but fireflies don't mind a little bit of rain. The program and viewing will proceed, or be delayed to wait for the weather to pass. In the unlikely event that heavy storms or fog completely disrupt the fireflies during the scheduled event time, a "Rain Date" on Sunday, June 28 for viewing only will be offered.

ALL guests should be prepared for 3-4 hours of engagement in the outdoors. Here are some helpful tips to follow for the comfort and safety of yourself and others:

• Dress appropriately for the weather; sturdy footwear and rain gear are recommended

• Wear light-colored or reflective clothing, hats, or outerwear. Long sleeves/pants are recommended

• NO LIGHTED SHOES! lighted jewelry, glow sticks, laser pointers or sparklers, etc.

• Bring lightweight camp chairs or a blanket

• Walking Sticks or Trek Poles are highly recommended regardless of age or ability*

• Guides will provide lights as needed, personal flashlights are not required nor necessary, but if used, must be covered by a dark red filter

• No cell phone cameras or flashlight, smoking/vaping, or pets will be permitted on the guided tours.

• Please apply any bug spray before you arrive on the premises, or cover exposed skin 

• Only leashed Service Dogs are permitted on the tours.

There are NO REFUNDS due to patron cancellation FOR ANY REASON. If for any reason you are unable to attend this event after you have registered, your ticket(s) is fully transferrable to another family member or friend. Contact us at pafireflyfestival@gmail.com to change the name on your tickets. Do not contact Ticket Stripe for refunds. Please, DO NOT RESELL your tickets online.

Nature Disclaimer:

Fireflies are creatures of nature.  PAFF has been monitoring and keeping data on firefly activity on these sites for 14 years.  However, firefly emergence and flashing displays are prone to temperatures and weather conditions. This habitat at the Tionesta Lake has multiple species of fireflies including the Synchronous, Photinus carolinus. PAFF makes no guarantees nor assurances that guests will see fireflies synchronizing on any given night.  If weather conditions cause the fireflies to not display and/or synchronize the night of the event, the PAFF programs have been developed and designed to educate guests and provide enough information that they will gain an appreciation for and be able to discover and observe fireflies on their own at a future date. The rain date for this event is Sunday, June 28 from dusk to 11PM. Guides will be on hand but there will not be a program.

*The walk is easy for typically able-bodied persons. If you have any mobility issues, we will do our best to accommodate your needs or make recommendations for alternatives that will allow you to see fireflies. Any patron needing physical assistance must provide their own capable assistant. Darkness adds an extra level of difficulty to the walks for even able-bodied participants. We highly recommend using walking sticks. PAFF volunteers will neither physically assist nor lift patrons. If you fall and cannot get up unassisted, we will offer first aid and call 911. Contact us if you need more information before you register.

PAFF is a registered 501(c)3 whose all-volunteer board's mission is to educate the public and raise awareness about all the firefly species in NW Pennsylvania. We are not supported by any government agencies or grants. The Annual PA Firefly Festival is our only fundraiser.

By registering for the event(s), the patron(s) acknowledge(s) the risks inherent at the PA Firefly Festival (PAFF) guided firefly walks including trip & fall risk, and both release and hold harmless PAFF, and its agents, from any and all liability arising from sickness or injuries sustained while a guest or visitor at the facilities. The patron(s) further release from liability any guide that is contracted for instruction or tours.

CROWD NOTICE / PHOTO RELEASE

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY ENTERING THE PA FIREFLY FESTIVAL EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING USED, WITHOUT COMPENSATION, IN PHOTOS, FILMS AND TAPES FOR EXPLOITATION IN ANY AND ALL MEDIA, WHETHER NOW KNOWN OR HEREAFTER DEVISED, FOR ETERNITY, AND YOU RELEASE PA FIREFLY FESTIVAL, INC,  ITS SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS AND LICENSEES FROM ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER OF ANY NATURE.

DO NOT ENTER THIS AREA IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING.