This cache is located near a popular ball field. Permission to place the cache was given by Abby Naas.
The Fireflies are Columbia’s Class A minor league affiliate to the NY Mets. The inspiration for the "Fireflies" name is a particular species of Firefly-the Photuris frontalis-and the amazing behavior of that firefly in the nearby floodplain forest in Congaree National Park. Each spring, as baseball season begins, the Photuris frontalis perform a wonderful and mysterious light show. For a few weeks, hundreds of these fireflies synchronize their flashing each night-they light as one, in unison. The mass synchronization that occurs on the banks of the Congaree is one of only a few places on Earth where such a spectacle is known to take place. To honor this, the Fireflies jersey glows in the dark.
Please do Not leave the sidewalk while searching for this cache!
This theme of synchronization and working together is also an apt metaphor for the city and its people. Columbia is a city that comes together to address major issues. Columbia can be counted among the few significant Southern cities that made it through integration in the 1960s without the kind of violence experienced in other places. This relatively peaceful integration process was largely the result of the City "coming together" in the form of the Columbia Community Relations Council, organized by then-Mayor Lester Bates. That spirit of cooperation continues in Columbia today in many forms, including education, arts and cultural events.
There will be games the entire eclipse weekend (Game Schedule), including one during the eclipse! See this link for eclipse events: Firefly Event Schedule
Parking may be an issue so plan your visit around the games schedule which can be found in the link above.