Annual fireflies event nears

RIDGELAND — Seeing a sparkling carpet of fireflies in your backyard can be a magical experience. But imagine seeing them all flashing at once – in a symphony of light. Synchronous species of fireflies are very special – and they exist in only a handful of places throughout the world, one of them being the backyard of the Waller Craft Center. Located at 950 Rice Road, the building backs up to the Natchez Trace. The wooded area between the back deck of the Craft Center and the Trace is the ideal breeding ground for the “snappy sync” fireflies.

To celebrate this once-a-year event, the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi is presenting the fifth annual Snappy Synch Soiree and Firefly Tours.

The Snappy Synch Soiree will be held on the evening of Thursday, May 16. Guests at the exclusive preview party will enjoy live music, light refreshments, wine, and a guided firefly tour. “This will be a true celebration of the start of summer for those who want to spend an evening immersed in the beauty of Mississippi’s synchronous fireflies,” said Debby DeLashmet, president of the Mississippi Craftsmen’s Guild Board of Directors. Tickets for the event are $40.

For those who would are interested in photographing the fireflies, a nighttime photography workshop will also be held on Thursday, May 16. Master photographer Kim Rushing will lead a course on nighttime nature photography during the peak of firefly season. The group will start with classroom instruction at the Craft Center from 7:00 to 7:30, then apply what they learn by photographing snappy sync fireflies together along the Natchez Trace Parkway when darkness falls. Tickets for the photography workshop also include access to the Snappy Sync Soiree event. Tickets for the photography workshop are $95.

Certified Mississippi Master Naturalists will provide 20-minute guided firefly tours Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19 near the historic Old Trace. A portion of the proceeds from these tours supports the conservation of Mississippi’s natural resources – like firefly habitat – through the Mississippi Master Naturalist program. Tickets for the firefly tours are $8.

For more information, contact event coordinator Claire Graves, clairegraves4@gmail.com or visit the Snappy Sync Firefly Tour page on Facebook.