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June 2022
Grandfather Glows: June 29
SOLD OUT: Bioluminescent Evenings on Grandfather Mountain! Have the rare opportunity to see Synchronous Fireflies, Blue Ghost Fireflies and Glowworms, weather and conditions permitting (rain date is June 30). Grandfather Mountain is home to the Photinus carolinus, one of the few species of firefly in North America whose individuals can synchronize their lighting display, meaning they can flash in unison. Read more about them! Grandfather Glows Schedule 7:00 p.m.: MacRae Meadows (Gate 3) opens for parking. Navigate to Grandfather Mountain…
Find out more »July 2022
Grandfather Glows: July 1
SOLD OUT: Bioluminescent Evenings on Grandfather Mountain! Have the rare opportunity to see Synchronous Fireflies, Blue Ghost Fireflies and Glowworms, weather and conditions permitting (rain date is July 2). Grandfather Mountain is home to the Photinus carolinus, one of the few species of firefly in North America whose individuals can synchronize their lighting display, meaning they can flash in unison. Read more about them! Grandfather Glows Schedule 7:00 p.m.: MacRae Meadows (Gate 3) opens for parking. Navigate to Grandfather Mountain…
Find out more »2022 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
Blaring bagpipes, Scottish athletics, Highland melodies, Celtic cuisine, crafts aplenty and a spectacular highland setting make this colorful celebration of Scottish culture one of the most highly acclaimed games in the country. Additional cost.
Find out more »Grandfather Presents: Rick Ridgeway
The first speaker in our 2022 Grandfather Presents series is Rick Ridgeway. Rick is an outdoor adventurer, writer and advocate for sustainability and conservation initiatives. For 15 years, Rick was the VP of Environmental Affairs and then VP of Public Engagement at Patagonia, Inc. During his tenure he has worked with teams to develop and launch environmental and sustainability initiatives including Freedom to Roam, the Footprint Chronicles, the Responsible Economy Campaign and Worn Wear. He also was the developer of…
Find out more »Grandfather by Night
Explore Grandfather Mountain after hours with your own personal guides. Discover some of the park’s nighttime wonders, while stopping at its most significant sites, and more.
Find out more »Grandfather by Night
Explore Grandfather Mountain after hours with your own personal guides. Discover some of the park’s nighttime wonders, while stopping at its most significant sites, and more.
Find out more »Adult Field Course: Fungi in the Cloud Forest
This event is SOLD OUT. The southern Appalachians are world-renowned for different types of fungi, from mushrooms to lichens, and is home to more than 2,000 species. Here's a chance to observe many kinds of fungi at higher elevations and learn how to identify them by size, shape, and color. We'll take several short hikes and through these field explorations learn about the fungal habitats, toxicology and the important roles fungi play in the forest ecosystem. We will collect representatives…
Find out more »WILD: Bears Educator Workshop
NOTE: This Educator Workshop is intended specifically for educators — not the general public. WILD: Bears will focus on black bears in North Carolina. A majority of the workshop will be spent learning about the life history and current research on black bears, as well as activities that can be incorporated into educators’ programs.
Find out more »Grandfather by Night
Explore Grandfather Mountain after hours with your own personal guides. Discover some of the park’s nighttime wonders, while stopping at its most significant sites, and more.
Find out more »Grandfather Presents: Tracy Swartout
As part of our 2022 Grandfather Presents speaker series, Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout will present ”Protecting the Parkway: The ‘Forever’ Business”. A native of the Carolinas, Tracy began her job as Superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway during the summer of 2021. She has worked for the National Park Service for over 22 years and served in NPS leadership roles across the country, including nine years at Mount Rainier National Park, where she worked most recently. Tracy's presentation…
Find out more »August 2022
Animal Enrichment Day
On Animal Enrichment Day, guests will see firsthand how Grandfather Mountain cares for its resident animals. Visitors can enjoy watching demonstrations, talk directly with keepers and participate in family-oriented games and crafts. Included with admission.
Find out more »Grandfather Presents: Ginger Zee
The second speaker in our 2022 Grandfather Presents series is Ginger Zee. Ginger is the chief meteorologist and managing editor of the climate unit at ABC News. You can see her covering the nation’s weather headlines on Good Morning America and across all ABC News broadcasts and digital platforms. She also hosts an ABC News original digital series, Food Forecast, focused on climate and its impact on agriculture. Ginger has covered almost every major weather event and dozens of historic…
Find out more »Grandfather by Night
Explore Grandfather Mountain after hours with your own guides. You’ll discover some of the nighttime wonders through the park, while stopping at its most significant sites. Watch a stunning Grandfather sunset, and experience the mountain as never before! Additional cost.
Find out more »Grandfather by Night
Explore Grandfather Mountain after hours with your own guides. You’ll discover some of the nighttime wonders through the park, while stopping at its most significant sites. Watch a stunning Grandfather sunset, and experience the mountain as never before! Additional cost.
Find out more »Grandfather Presents: Charlie Brady
As part of our 2022 Grandfather Presents speaker series, Charlie Brady, Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Conservancy, will present “Strategically Protecting Land to Ensure Access to Natural Places for Everyone.” The Blue Ridge Conservancy is a non-profit organization that has protected over 23,000 acres in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties in western NC. In addition to protecting working farmland, BRC’s efforts have resulted in the creation of state natural areas such as Beech Creek Bog,…
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