Droves of people exited trolleys with chairs and hammocks in hand to claim their place beneath towering hemlocks at the Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee on Thursday.

They sat in rows along walkways as if they were waiting for floats and pageant queens to come parading through the forest. For two hours, they anticipated darkness. Everything seemed a bit surreal.

Children stood on rocks, beating their chests and shouting to their parents below as if they had just scaled a giant mountain peak. The gentle streams that surrounded them were more like roaring rapids in their minds.

Some traveled from as far away as Alaska or Australia to be in the moment, reports the Knoxville News Sentinel, which is part of the USA TODAY Network.

Why were these people here?

For a marvelous show unlike any they had ever seen — a synchronized spectacle powered by a unique species of delightful fireflies that lit up the summer air like stars falling from the heavens.

Fireflies like actors on a stage

It didn’t matter where you were from or how you got there — everyone was together. Yet, somehow, it felt like the show was orchestrated just for you.

A husband and wife from Sweden were camping nearby when they wandered upon the crowd, not knowing about the rare display that awaited them. The husband had been astonished the night before when he saw an ordinary firefly for the very first time.

They had no clue what to expect. Hardly anyone did.

The sunlight grew dimmer, like houselights in a theater as the first act draws near. And spotting the first firefly was like catching an actor peek around the curtain.

The raucous children put their wild games on hold and the night became nearly silent. The show was ready to begin.

Orienting yourself in a wondrous world

Hundreds of fireflies' bodies burst into light, emitting a few synchronous flashes before pausing. Nearby, another large group did the same.

Not only did these creatures create light, but they created what seemed like total darkness upon stopping. It was a disorienting darkness that overtook you. It almost made you feel lost.

Then the low-flying fireflies flashed once again and became the forest floor, while the ones against the walkway’s trees became a glowing wall, containing you not in a space but in a moment – reminding you where you were.

For some, it reminded them that they were in God’s wondrous world — a world he must have created if something like this could be real.

Lying on the ground felt like floating in a far-off galaxy as you watched the fireflies, like stars, absorb the space around you. And looking at the ground showed just how much light these tiny creatures contain as the pavement illuminated like bolts of lightning were flashing in the sky.

A marvelous moment to share

People began to question how these fireflies knew to flash together. Was it some sort of scent or a count led by the leader of the swarm?

The true answer was love or, at least, a mate. They rose from the ground to seek someone to be with.

That’s something we can all relate to. And once we find the people we care about, we seek out moments to share with them.

The one everyone shared Thursday was unlike anything I have ever seen.

It made me feel present in a moment yet lost in time. It made me feel incredibly small yet part of something huge. It left me speechless yet wanting to share with everyone my marvelous experience.

But the truth is, there are no words.

What did others think?

Mary Mars, 34, from Cumberland Gap, Tennessee: “I definitely feel closer to God. Nature is my church, and this is where I come to experience him. Being able to see something that he does up close and personal out in something that only he created — I definitely feel him with me.”

Denise Gallagher, 68, from Athens, Georgia: “It’s like a Christmas display of lights set to music, maybe. It’s fascinating. In my whole lifetime, I’ve never seen an eighth of (the fireflies) here. … It’s quite lovely. It’s something that you wouldn’t ordinarily see, and it’s something you should do once in your lifetime. Mother Nature has such a way of making things work.”

Sarah Bradley, 27, from Wetumpka, Alabama: “I read about it in a magazine when I was little — it was one of my mom’s magazines. And it’s always been a dream of mine to come. It rivals going to see Christmas lights when I was a kid, and that was the most magical thing I could think of. It’s truly phenomenal. ... For me, I was just sitting here thinking it’s like the stars come out of the sky just to come down and light up the forest for a few hours and have a party. It’s truly magical.”

David Wang, 45, from Atlanta, Georgia: “I thought it was going to be like summertime, childhood firefly stuff. It was a lot more than that. It was almost like a concert. It’s like somebody is organizing it — like there’s some kind of central person directing them.”

John Price, 64, from Asheville, North Carolina: “It feels like seeing one of the seven wonders of the world. It’s just amazing to see the fireflies synchronize. And just the peace of being out here is just fantastic. … It reminds me of the rhythm of the waves — that type of thing — sitting and looking at a starry night. The background of the stream is beautiful. It just makes you appreciate God’s world.”

Want to go?

A lottery determines who gets to view the fireflies. This year's lottery closed April 29 but should open again next year around the same time.

There's a $1 fee to apply, and successful applicants are charged $24 to cover the costs of supplies and on-site personnel.

Lottery winners are given a parking pass to use on a specific date. This year's display started May 30 and will finish June 6.