Common Questions

The 2025 New Harmony Firefly Festival will be held at the Atheneum Visitors Center, 401 North Arthur Street, New Harmony, Indiana. 

New Harmony, Indiana, is located in the Central Time Zone. We are one hour behind Eastern Time. 

The Firefly Festival will be held on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28, 2025. 

On Friday, June 27, the Atheneum Visitors Center will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Central Time. Festival activities will start at 5 p.m. with the arrival of food trucks and kids' activities by Mudpuppy Palace. The Atheneum will close to the public at 11 p.m. that night. 

On Saturday, June 28, festival activities start early in the morning with the Firefly Festival Run/Walk event at 7:30 a.m. The Atheneum opens to the public at 9:30 a.m. Festival activities continue from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Atheneum will close to the public at 11 p.m. that night.

For a full schedule, follow this link. 

The Firefly Festival is free to enter, and no tickets are required. 

The Firefly Festival will happen rain or shine, so be sure to bring appropriate clothing for the weather. 

Here is a link to the 2025 Firefly Festival Map. 

Yes, you may leave and re-enter the Firefly Festival as you wish. The Atheneum Visitors Center will be open for extended hours on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28 from 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Central Time. 

The current schedule is available on our website at this link. 

The area that New Harmony locals call "Firefly Theater" is the Jane B. Owen Lane, which is located near Main Street on the trail leading to the Wabash River. You can find downloadable copies of the 2025 Firefly Festival Map at this link. 

To reach Firefly Theater, you have several options:

Tram Tour

During the Firefly Festival on June 27 and 28, Historic New Harmony will provide free tram rides from the Atheneum Visitors Center to the entrance to Firefly Theater and then back to the Atheneum. Volunteers with golf carts will also be hand to provide transportation between the Atheneum and Firefly Theater.

Below is the 2025 Firefly Festival Map with the tram route indicated in red. 

Alternative Walking Route

You can also walk from the Atheneum to Firefly Theater using North Street until you reach the corner of North and Main Streets. Turn left on Main Street. You will then walk a short distance along Main Street on a paved trail towards the Wabash River. On the right side of the trail will be a sign that indicates the Jane B. Owen Lane with an arrow pointing right. Take that detour and walk a short distance on an unpaved gravel trail until you reach "Firefly Theater" in the woods. 

We suggest viewing the fireflies from the wide window inside the open-air Roofless Church that overlooks a field. Below is a picture of that space at night.

To get there, we recommend taking Historic New Harmony's tram to the corner of North and Main Streets. Walk to the accessible entrance of the Roofless Church on North Street. From that entrance, you will see the wide window directly across from you. It is one of the loveliest spaces in New Harmony. You may even see fireflies inside the Roofless Church!

Please note that there is a 5-inch step from the sidewalk to the window seating area. 

Only service animals are allowed inside the Atheneum Visitors Center and on Historic New Harmony's tram.

When making the decision on whether to bring your pet to the Firefly Festival, please take into consideration that it will be very hot and humid this weekend in New Harmony. Note that non-service animals (including pets) are not allowed inside the Atheneum or on the tram. It may be too dangerous for your pet to keep them outside in the heat while attending the festival.    

If you are bringing your pet to activities outside the Atheneum or to Firefly Theater, please make sure that they have protection from heat and sun, plenty of cold water to drink, and are leashed and behaving well around other people and animals. Your pet must stay leashed and with a handler at all times, be cleaned up after, and handlers are liable for any damages/injuries caused. We reserve the right to ask you and your pet to leave if your pet jeopardizes the safety of other visitors, staff or animals.

Yes, you can bring outside food or beverages to the lawn and seating areas outside of the Atheneum Visitors Center. No alcohol will be sold or consumed at the Firefly Festival.

You may also bring your own blankets and lawn chairs.  

The following items are ALLOWED at the Firefly Festival

• Strollers;
• Binoculars;
• Blankets;
• Lawn chairs;
• Wheelchairs and walkers;
• Cameras and Go Pro cameras;
• Sunscreen lotion; 
• Insect repellant; 
• Flashlights;
• Glow sticks;
• Outside food and drinks are allowed.

The following items are PROHIBITED at the Firefly Festival

• Drones or any other remote flying devices;
• Firearms, explosives, and weapons of any kind;
• Fireworks;
• Alcoholic beverages;
• Illegal substances.

We recommend that you bring cash with you if you intend to buy food or drinks from the food trucks/booths at the Atheneum or plan to go shopping or dining out in New Harmony.

There is not an ATM available at the Atheneum Visitors Center. You can find ATMs in New Harmony at the Yellow Tavern (521 Church Street) or on the outside wall of Heritage Federal Credit Union (502 Main Street) facing Church Street.

Heritage Federal Credit Union Location (red pin)

The Yellow Tavern (red pin)

We recommend using your choice of bug spray since Firefly Theater is located in the woods near the Wabash River, which is attractive to mosquitoes. 

We recommend bringing a flashlight with you, especially if you want to explore the trails in the woods or may need extra lighting as you walk to Firefly Theater. 

By entering an event or program of Historic New Harmony, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur.  

Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any and all recorded media of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connection with Historic New Harmony and its initiatives, including, by way of example only, use on websites, in social media, news and advertising. 

By entering the event premises, you waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media. 

You understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter the event premises. 

You can find a list of the food trucks and booths with links to their social media pages on the Food and Drink page of our website. 

Prices are set by the vendors. 

Free parking is available in the Atheneum Visitors Center parking lot as well as on the streets nearby. 

Yes, New Harmony has a hotel and a number of options for bed & breakfasts, camping and cabins, and guest house rentals. You can find more information on places to stay on the Visit New Harmony website.

You can find a dining guide on the Visit New Harmony website. Hours of operation vary. You may want to visit the restaurant's social media page or website on June 27-28 to confirm its hours for those days. 

We try to make the Firefly Festival as accessible as possible for all visitors. The Atheneum Visitors Center is wheelchair accessible on the first and second floors, and we offer accessible restrooms there on the first floor.

Please be aware that the trails and Firefly Theater are mostly over natural terrain. If it should rain, there will be mud in these areas. 

Please contact Historic New Harmony if you or someone in your group has a disability, so we can determine what accommodations are needed to make the Firefly Festival a success for you. You may contact us at 812-682-4488 or at harmony@usi.edu to discuss your needs.  

We encourage you to ask about food allergens at the food trucks and booths. Outside food and drinks are allowed at the Firefly Festival, so you may want to bring a picnic with you. No alcoholic drinks are sold or allowed at our family-friendly festival.  

Yes. Only service animals are allowed inside the Atheneum Visitors Center and on Historic New Harmony's tram. 

The Firefly Festival organizers follow the guidance of local, regional and national authorities regarding safety and security. We want every visitor to feel safe at the festival. If you have an immediate need while here, go to the Atheneum's front desk to speak to a staff member. Police or EMTs can be notified, if needed.

For any emergencies, contact 911 immediately. 

ALL reported accidents and or injuries occurring during this event shall be documented on the University of Southern Indiana Accident/Injury Investigation Report. During the Firefly Festival the USI accident/injury investigation report is available at the Atheneum front desk; the form can also be accessed online at: https://www.usi.edu/media/rfbiqwsm/accident-injury-investigation-fillable-pdf-form.pdf.  

A child that is found or reported to have been separated from their group or responsible adult should be brought to the Atheneum's front desk, which is designated and promoted as the safe area for children or individuals to go in case of an emergency. We will then coordinate attempts to reunite the child and their group or responsible adult. If the group or responsible adult cannot be located in a timely manner, the appropriate law enforcement agency (911) will be contacted. 

Notify the Atheneum's front desk immediately to report a lost or missing child. We will need a descriptor and personal information on the child and will contact all event staff with this information in an attempt to locate the child. We will also contact the appropriate law enforcement agency (911) for assistance if the circumstances are suspicious or foul play is suspected. 

In the event of severe weather, the Atheneum Visitors Center is a storm shelter. If you see lightning or hear a siren sounding, please go to this building. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask the front desk at the Atheneum (812-682-4474). 

We want every visitor to feel safe at the Firefly Festival. If you have an immediate need while here, go to the Atheneum's front desk. This is where a staff member can be located and on hand to help you. 

Restrooms are available on the first floor of the Atheneum Visitors Center. 

No, there is not an ATM available at the Atheneum Visitors Center. You can find ATMs in New Harmony at the Yellow Tavern (521 Church Street) or on the outside wall of Heritage Federal Credit Union (502 Main Street) facing Church Street.

Heritage Federal Credit Union Location (red pin)

The Yellow Tavern (red pin)

Lost and Found is located at the Atheneum's front desk. 

Please contact Historic New Harmony at 812-682-4488 or harmony@usi.edu. 

Please contact Heidi Taylor-Caudill with Historic New Harmony at 812-682-6133 or hltaylorca@usi.edu to ask about volunteering at the Firefly Festival. Volunteer opportunities are also posted on Historic New Harmony's website.