Firefly Festival In South Jersey Showcases Nostalgia, Risks Bug Faces

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJ — The Gloucester County Nature Club will hold a Firefly Festival on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Tall Pines State Preserve along Woodbury-Glassboro and Barkbridge roads in Sewell, the event's organizer told Patch.

The festival's roots can be traced back to a Firefly Festival in Somerset County, Organizer Kris Mollenhauer told Patch.

Gloucester County's version of the event was first held in 2018, then again in 2019, then canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, she said.

The location of this year's event is ideal, Mollenhauer added.

"Tall Pines State Preserve is a perfect place for the event," she said. "It’s a big natural area with lots of fields, trails and fireflies."

Attendees will be invited to remember how they played with fireflies as children and will also learn the risks the bug often faces, according to Mollenhauer.

"The fireflies put on a good show and we aim to help people appreciate them and learn how to protect them from environmental hazards. People are noticing the decrease in firefly numbers in their backyards," she said. "Many adults remember fireflies from their childhood and want to share that with their children. We want to help preserve those magical summer nights of fireflies."

The event is free but Mollenhauer strongly recommends attendees register in advance by emailing your name and number of all the people in your group, including the number of children, to fireflyfest@gcnatureclub.org.

She also provided what she called other important information for attendees:

• Carpool to the event with other attendees, as the number of available parking spots is limited.
• Leave your dogs at your house.
• Use the parking lot that is off Barkbridge Road (there will be a tent to help attendees find this parking area).
• Bring a flashlight.
• Arrive no later than 8:15 p.m. and expect things to wrap up at about 10 p.m.

There is no rain date for the event, according to Mollenhauer.

Got a news tip? Story idea? Send me an email with the details at janel.miller@patch.com.