EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF SYNCHRONOUS “SNAPPY SYNC” FIREFLIES ALONG THE HISTORIC NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY.

The Snappy Sync Soiree and Firefly Tours is an annual event that offers guests the opportunity to see Mississippi’s incredible synchronous fireflies (“Snappy Syncs”) during the peak of their yearly display along the historic Natchez Trace Parkway. A preview party will be held on May 18 followed by three nights of ticketed tours led by Mississippi Master Naturalists, welcoming hundreds of visitors to the area. A nighttime photography workshop on May 18 will also be part of the event. Throughout the four-day celebration, the beautIful display of thousands of twinkling fireflies flashing together among the pines and hardwoods will inspire awe for the simple wonders Mother Nature provides every day.

Schedule Of Events

Set for Thurs., May 18, the Snappy Sync Soiree is the preview party before the three nights of ticketed tours. Guests will enjoy light refreshments, music and guided firefly viewing on the Natchez Trace Parkway. An evening immersed in the beauty of Mississippi’s synchronous fireflies will be a true celebration of the start of summer.

Mississippi Master Naturalist volunteers will lead Snappy Sync Firefly Tours May 19-21. Groups of 15 guests will embark on the 20-minute tours beginning on the boardwalk of the Waller Craft Center in Ridgeland, then circle the Old Trace/Brashear’s Stand historic site off the Natchez Trace Parkway. Tours will begin at 8 p.m. and conclude at 10 p.m. (9:40 p.m. on Sunday). Tour guides will help visitors spot Snappy Sync fireflies, provide information about how to identify various other species of fireflies, and answer questions. Tickets are $8 per person—an affordable price to witness one of Mississippi’s best natural wonders.

During the Nighttime Photography Workshop on May 18, a professional nature photographer will provide a hands-on workshop for a group of 10-20 participants interested in learning to photograph fireflies and other nighttime creatures. Participants will meet in the field and spend time experimenting with techniques and equipment to develop their skills.

This is the fourth year of firefly tours at the Waller Craft Center and the event continues to grow. Tickets have sold out for the past three years, and more than 1,000 guests from across Mississippi and surrounding states have experienced the magic of Snappy Syncs.

Long-time firefly enthusiast and Mississippi Master Naturalist Claire Graves is the mastermind behind the annual firefly celebration. After observing Snappy Syncs for a few seasons behind the Waller Craft Center, she wanted to find a way to share this special local treasure with more people. Through a partnership with the National Park Service, the Waller Craft Center, and the Mississippi Master Naturalist program, Graves organized the first tours in May 2020. Each year, she and other Master Naturalists lead visitors through the firefly-filled darkness, giving them a front-row seat to witness the wonder of thousands of tiny glowing creatures calling out to one another in the night.