In Georgia’s Blue Ridge, conservation is a community effort — and it begins at dusk
On a warm summer evening in Blue Ridge, Georgia, the magic starts quietly. The sun slips behind the mountains. Porch lights flick off. And for a few precious weeks each year, tiny lanterns begin to rise from the grass.
Fireflies — lightning bugs, as most Southerners still call them — have long been part of the region’s ecological and cultural heritage. But in recent years, their numbers have dwindled. What was once a shimmering, near-mythical display of millions has become something rarer, more fragile.
That’s where a small-town partnership decided to step in.
“Lights Off – Fireflies On” is more than a catchy phrase. It’s a community-wide effort led by the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, Noontootla Creek Farms, University of Georgia Extension, and Fannin County Schools to restore habitat, educate residents and visitors, and protect one of the mountains’ simplest joys.
Chamber President Christie Gribble believes conservation works best when everyone has a role to play. Turning off outdoor lights after dark during peak firefly season helps the insects find one another and mate successfully. It’s a small act with meaningful impact — and one that both locals and travelers can participate in.
Fireflies — lightning bugs, as most Southerners still call them — have long been part of the region’s ecological and cultural heritage.
University of Georgia Extension entomologist Becky Griffin serves as both technical advisor and advocate. “Fireflies are an important part of our ecological heritage,” she explains. “By working together to educate residents and visitors, we have a real opportunity to make a difference.”
Education is central to the effort. Local STEM classes participate in milkweed plantings and habitat restoration projects, learning science standards alongside stewardship values. Programs like Trout in the Classroom, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, Save Georgia Hemlocks, and The Great Southeast Pollinator Project reinforce a simple truth: conservation is hands-on work.
The Chamber hosts milkweed giveaways, organizes planting days, and even created an “Easily Distracted by Fireflies” T-shirt that has quietly become a bestseller. Each July, the initiative culminates in Firefly Day and a magical “Dining with Fireflies” outdoor dinner hosted at Noontootla Creek Farms.
For Emily Owenby, whose family has stewarded the 1,000-acre farm since the 1950s, the mission is personal. Once a family retreat and now a carefully managed hunting and fishing reserve, the land represents both heritage and livelihood. A University of Georgia environmental science graduate, Owenby now manages the property and consults with the Chamber.
“Because of conservation, we have the opportunity to enjoy the same beauty that brought my great-grandfather here,” she says. “Keeping wild places wild ensures these mountains will continue to glow — quite literally — for generations to come.”
In Blue Ridge, protecting natural treasures isn’t a single organization’s responsibility. It’s a team sport. And sometimes, it’s as simple as flipping a switch.
