Synchronous Fireflies Great Smoky Mountains June 2018

Synchronous Fireflies Great Smoky Mountains June 2018. It’s never to early to start making plans to see the Synchronous Fireflies (and the Blue Ghost Fireflies) that will light up the night sky in late May and early June 2018 in the Great Smoky Mountains. Firefly viewing in the Smokies has become such a popular event that there are now several venues available to enjoy the spectacular shows

The Synchronous Firefly (Photinus carolinus) and the Blue Ghost Firefly (Phausis reticulata) are two species that are found only in the Southern Appalachian Mountains which include the Great Smokies. And during the short mating season in late May and early June, both firefly species put on quite a show to behold! The male Synchronous Fireflies flash their little green-yellow bioluminescent lanterns in unison for about 6-8 blinks and then they go dark for a few seconds creating a sublime wave of light throughout the forest. The male Blue Ghost Fireflies don’t flash their blue-white lanterns, instead they glow continuously just a few inches above the ground. The ethereal experience of either nighttime show should be on everyone’s bucket list!  National Park scientists mostly use air and soil temperatures to predict the timing of each year’s mating season.

Synchronous Fireflies with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
One of the most popular places to view the Synchronous Fireflies is in Elkmont in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This event has become so popular that a free lottery system was instituted this year for the $1.50 parking passes for the eight-day shuttle period to Elkmont. During this time of peak viewing, Elkmont is closed at nighttime with the exception of shuttle users and campers in Elkmont Campground. Dates for the 2018 Lottery and Elkmont Shuttle will be announced sometime in April 2018. HeySmokies will keep you updated, so be sure to check back with us. We’ll provide you all the details of what you need to know to register for the lottery. For more information in the meantime, visit Recreation.gov.

Synchronous Fireflies with Discover Life in America in Gatlinburg, TN
For a few nights during peak firefly viewing time, Discover Life in America hosts a fundraising event featuring nightly presentations and field walks at the Norton Creek Sanctuary near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tickets for the event are $100 each and the event is geared toward persons ages 10 and older. For reservations for this exclusive event, call Discover Life in America at 865-430-4757 or email todd@dlia.org.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd and Foreigner to Rock Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in September!

Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event Center in North Carolina will host rock icons Lynyrd Skynyrd and Foreigner in September 2016! Check out these fantastic shows and other great entertainers at the resort’s amazing 3,000-seat event center. All guests must be at least 21 years of age and have valid identification.

JAMEY JOHNSON
Saturday, August 27, 2016 @ 8:00 pm
Raised in Montgomery, Alabama Johnson gained recognition for his debut album and single “The Dollar” in 2006. His hits continued with the release of his follow-up gold certified album “That Lonesome Song.” Johnson’s collaborations with country legends Trace Adkins and George Strait round out a musical library that must be heard. Tickets $10.00 – $35.00 per person.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD
Saturday, September 3, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
This southern rock band returns to Harrah’s Resort and it’s sure to sell out fast. Keeping it real since the 1970’s with legendary hits “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Free Bird,” and more this show must not be missed. Tickets are $25.00 – $75.00 per person.

FOREIGNER
Saturday, September 17, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of their self-titled, debut album Foreigner. Hits like “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold As Ice” and “Long Long Way From Home” were followed with ten multi-platinum albums and sixteen Top 30 hits. Tickets are $30.00 – $55.00.

GOVERNMENT MULE with BLACKBERRY SMOKE
Friday, September 30, 2016 @ 8:00 pm
Government Mule celebrates 20 years together the Smokin’ Mule 2016 Summer Tour! And with very special guests Blackberry Smoke, this performance proves to be another epic one! Tickets are $24.00 – $44.00 per person.

3 DOORS DOWN
Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 7:00 pm
These Mississipian rockers rose to international fame with their debut single “Kryptonite.” Their album The Better Life was certified platinum six times. For sixteen years since their meteoric rise they have continued to rock our world! Tickets are $20.00 – $35.00 per person.

To purchase tickets for any of these events, visit Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort Events Center. For questions, call the box office at 828-497-8899.

INSIDER TRAVEL TIP: Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Hotel is pet-friendly. They even have a special PetStay Luxury Room for up to two of your four-legged family members of the canine persuasion.

Top 5 Waterfall Hikes in the Smokies! Beat the Heat and Hike to a Smoky Mountain Waterfall!

Beat the heat this summer and take a hike to a refreshing Smoky Mountain waterfall! The abundant streams of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are the lifeblood of this International Biosphere Reserve and the waterfalls found within are some of the most extraordinary hiking destinations year-round. When the heat of summer is upon us, there is no better place to be than enjoying a cool, misty breeze near a lush waterfall in the Smokies! We’ve got the Top 5 Waterfall Hikes in the Smokies for you!

The fine mist is so refreshing that after only a few moments you may be ready to step back into the sunlight and warm up a bit. Along the trails to the waterfalls there are often quiet, sun-dappled pools in the streams that are perfect for soaking your hiking feet. It is unsafe to swim beneath the waterfalls; just standing near one is really all you need to do to cool down.

Here are a few of our top waterfall hikes in the Smokies when the weather is warm and we’re looking for a favorite place to chill! You’ll find some of the Top 5 Waterfall Hikes are just a short walk from your vehicle, while others offer more time to explore the beautiful summertime scenery. No matter what section of the National Park you’re visiting, you’re sure to find a wondrous waterfall!

CHEROKEE / OCONALUFTEE 
 #1 Mingo Falls
Mingo Falls is actually located on the Qualla Boundary (Cherokee Indian Reservation) and is considered an easy hike at 0.4 miles in length but don’t let that fool you. There are over 200 steps to climb to reach the base of the falls but it is well worth it. Mingo Falls is one of the tallest in the region at 120 feet high and the cooling mist that swirls around its base makes all that “stair mastering” a distant memory.

To reach the Mingo Falls trailhead travel south from Oconaluftee Visitor Center on US-441 toward  Cherokee and turn left on Big Cove Road. Turn left at the first stop sign and drive 4.5 miles to the Mingo Falls Campground and the trailhead. No special permits are required for access to the reservation.

CADES COVE 
 #2 Abrams Falls
Abrams Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with most hikers reaching it via the Abrams Falls Trail in Cades Cove. From here the hike is 2.5 miles one-way and is considered moderate in difficulty. HeySmokies recommends sturdy footwear (not flip flops) to traverse the rocky terrain encountered on the trail. (For more info on suggested hiking essentials visit our 10 Essentials for Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains)

Abrams Falls is a mere 20 feet high but the volume of water funneling through earns it the unofficial moniker of the “Little Niagara of the Smokies.” The inviting pool beneath the falls can be deadly; swimmers have drowned here due to strong undercurrents and an undertow. Don’t be the next victim, enjoy the falls and its cooling mist from a safe distance. Abrams Falls is named for Cherokee Chief Abram who once lived a few miles below the falls near Abrams Creek Campground.

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American Cornhole League’s Championship of Bags Tournament at Harrah’s Cherokee July 21-24!

The American Cornhole League will hold the 2016 National Championship of Bags Tournament at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort on July 21-24, 2016! These folks are serious about their cornhole and it’s about to pay off big for someone with the right skills! Participants will compete for $50,000 in prize money for singles, doubles and crew cup prizes.

Who can resist the time honored game of cornhole? Why resist? Now cornhole can be a money making proposition! All adults,  21 years and older,  will want their chance to toss a bag,  so make reservations now for this four-day event. This is a BYOB (bring your own bags) event; the American Cornhole League believes that bags are a personal choice and participants are allowed to compete, with a few guidelines, with their own bags.

For more information and registration, visit American Cornhole League. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is located near downtown Cherokee, NC.

The $25,000 Championship of Bags 2016 Singles Championship will be broadcast live on ESPN3 (third round, July 24, 2016 @ 1:00 pm)

So why not join the fun? Grab a bag and make some history in a game that dates back to 14th century Germany and was rediscovered in 18th century Kentucky using a cow pie! Will you toss a Dirty Rollup, a Cow Pie or maybe neither if you’re just plain CORNFUSED! See you in Cherokee, Champs!

Click for Clingmans Dome Observation Tower! July 5th is the Last Day to Help at Vote Your Park!

Click for Clingmans Dome Observation Tower before July 5, 2016 to help the Great Smoky Mountains National Park win a $250,000 grant for desperately needed repairs! The National Trust for Historic Preservation has joined forces with the National Geographic Society to offer a total of $2 million in grant money to preserve five historic sites within America’s National Park System.

Clingmans Dome Observation Tower is the third highest peak in the eastern United States at 6,643 feet above sea level. On clear days the view extends over 100 miles. Clingmans Dome is subject to year-round weather extremes and that has taken its toll on the historic tower. Completed in 1959 the Clingmans Dome Oberservation Tower has had a long and productive life but it’s time for some overdue maintenance and you can help with just a click!

You can vote for five National Parks to receive theses grants once a day through July 5, 2016 at VoteYourPark.com. Cast your votes for Clingmans Dome Observation Tower in the Smoky Mountains and do your part to ensure the amazing view it provides will be there for future generations.