Traveling Towards Totality

Gearing up for the Great American Eclipse this month

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On April 8, if you’re not paying attention, you might find yourself suddenly shrouded in shadow—the birds will go silent and the insects will scream. Certain flowers will spontaneously close their petals. And here in Louisiana, tiny crescents will appear all over the sidewalks. Whatever you do, don’t look up. 

Not unless you have eye protection, that is. 

We recommend, instead, that you mark the date on your calendar and fully prepare for this celestial wonder (get yourself some eclipse glasses). It won’t happen again, on this scale, for another twenty-one years. Dubbed the Great North American Eclipse, this astronomical event will have the moon fully blocking the sun along a 4,200 -mile-long, 115-mile-wide path across North America, from the Pacific Coast of Mexico all the way to Newfoundland, Canada, lasting over four minutes. It will be visible to over 35 million people (compared to the roughly 12 million who could view the 2017 eclipse). 

“Outside of a meteor storm, a total solar eclipse is the most immersive astronomical experience. The entire environment undergoes changes that you can see and feel. The quality and character of light in the landscape changes, temperatures drop, animals become active, and projections of the crescent Sun are projected through any small opening [an effect described as a ‘pinhole camera’]. Those are only a few phenomena that occur.”

—Merril Hess, Public Information Officer of the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society 

“Outside of a meteor storm, a total solar eclipse is the most immersive astronomical experience,” explained Merrill Hess, the Public Information Officer at the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society. “The entire environment undergoes changes that you can see and feel. The quality and character of light in the landscape changes, temperatures drop, animals become active, and projections of the crescent Sun are projected through any small opening [an effect described as a ‘pinhole camera’]. Those are only a few phenomena that occur.” 

Louisiana, alas, is not on the “path of totality”—which means we won’t experience the true “nighttime during the day” effect of a total eclipse here. However, from most cities viewers will observe a partial eclipse with 80–99% obscuration of the sun. Shreveport and the surrounding Ark-La-Tex area will be as close as you can get, just outside the path of totality. “We will get about 98% coverage here in Northwest Louisiana which will dim the sky a little bit,” said Robert Bailey, Vice President of the Shreveport Bossier Astronomical Society. “It will not be safe to view without proper solar filters or special solar telescopes.” Bailey recommended name brands Thousand Oaks Optical or Lunt, and said to avoid knock-offs and third party retailers such as Amazon to avoid damage to your cameras or your eyesight. 

If you’re looking for an excuse to make a road trip and witness the phenomena in full, several major cities on the eclipse’s path are a half-day’s journey from most Louisiana homebases. These include Fredericksburg, Waco, and Austin, Texas; as well as Conway, Jonesboro, Hot Springs, and Little Rock, Arkansas. This is not to exclude the dozens of small towns gearing up to host the thousands of eclipse pilgrims making their way along the path of totality. Many of these cities are even hosting eclipse festivals and viewing parties; we’ve listed a few of the most intriguing below:

April 6–8, Total Eclipse of the Heart—Russellville, Arkansas

Kicking off on Saturday with ten hours of live music, hot air balloons, escape rooms, rock climbing, and more, this event also brings in NASA scientists for presentations, and concludes with a mass wedding beneath the eclipse. Tie the knot with two hundred other couples in Russellville, Arkansas as the moon, sun, and Earth align in perfect synchrony (a good omen, they promise). Or, just watch the spectacle unfold. A celebrity officiant is promised, and the ceremony will be timed to conclude just before totality takes place—when a “ring” of light will shine out around the moon. $100 per day, with no additional cost to get married. totaleclipserussellville.com. 

April 5–8, Solar Celebration, Live from Waco—Waco, Texas

Right smack in the middle of the line of totality, this festival will provide prime viewing accompanied by plenty of entertainment. Start the celebrations with live music at Indian Spring Park on Friday, which will continue onthe Riverfront Saturday. The Lights Over Waco Festival on Sunday will feature more live music, a drone show, and a lantern parade at Indian Spring Park. Then the grand finale will take place at Touchdown Alley at McClane Stadium—where telescopes, astronomers, and interactive educational opportunities will be waiting to ensure guests don’t miss a thing. Most events are free. $20 for the eclipse viewing on Monday ($10 for children ages 5–17). eclipseovertexas2024.

April 5–8, Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival—Hot Springs, Arkansas

For the last total solar eclipse in 2017, Atlas Obscura hosted an epic festival in the line of totality in Oregon’s Snake River Valley. This time, they’re combining the celebration with Hot Springs’ twentieth annual Valley of the Vapors international underground music festival. The lineup includes performances by Deerhoof, Sonny and the Sunsets, Blonde Redhead, and Angel Olsen; as well as film screenings, comedians, and speakers. Day passes range from $70–135. ecliptic.atlasobscura.com. 

April 8, Solar Eclipse Festival—Fredericksburg, Texas

Settle in under the Texas sky at Grapetown Vineyard and Farm, where you can experience a Hot Air Balloon glow and rides, glamping experiences, farm-to-table dining, live music, and wine tastings—all in the lead up to the grand solar event. $75 for general admission, with optional add-ons for VIP experiences. thefredericksburgeclipse.com. 

To see a map of the eclipse’s path of totality, and a simulation of what it will look like in your city, visit eclipse2024.org. Other resources include greatamericaneclipse.com and shadowandsubstance.com.