AUSTIN, Texas — For just a few minutes on April 8, Central Texas skies will turn completely dark during the daytime.
That's because of a natural occurrence known as the total solar eclipse, when the moon blocks the sun and creates a brief shadow over the Earth's surface.
Although this event happens approximately once every year and a half, it's only visible in certain parts of the world each time.
Now, for the first time in more than 140 years, the Austin area will be in the path of totality for the sky-watching event. To celebrate, there are dozens of watch parties and other eclipse-themed events scheduled across Central Texas.
Central Texas cities in the path of totality
Looking to watch the eclipse in the Austin area? Starting at 1:32 p.m. on April 8, those in Austin, Marble Falls, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Fredericksburg, Johnson City and Blanco will be in the path of totality.
Some specific Austin locations include the University of Texas at Austin and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
U.T. Austin will welcome eclipse enthusiasts from noon-3 p.m. at 16 different 'sun spot' locations:
- Walter Cronkite Plaza
- University Avenue
- CPE Lawn
- Speedway North
- Townes Hall
- West Mall
- Main Mall
- South Mall
- Gregory Gym Plaza
- Winship Circle
- LBJ Lawn
- Rowling Hall Plaza
- Speedway South
- Caven-Clark Field
- The Texas Tennis Center Lawn
- Lot 23
Viewing glasses will be available at each of these locations and participants will also have the chance to look through a telescope, try eclipse-themed foods and learn additional information.
From 1-2 p.m., the majority of classes and services will be on pause for a viewing hour, as the eclipse is set to happen between 1:36-1:38 p.m. on campus.
The university will also host concerts by the Butler School of Music and the Moody College of Communication, an eclipse art show by the Department of Art & Art History and a drum circle by Latino Studies students.
That's not the only option available for Austinites.
From 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 8, visitors can park for free at the LBJ Wildflower Center, located at 4801 La Crosse Ave., to view the eclipse and participate in various events.
From 10 a.m.-1 p.m., the center will be hosting 20-minute long sound bath sessions in the Great Hall. At the same time, psychic readers and healers will be reading palms and tarot cards outdoors in the gardens.
At 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., a short film called Totality Over Texas is set to be shown at the auditorium.
Tickets must be purchased in advance and prices start at $15 per adult and $10 for seniors.
Additionally, those interested can purchase a guaranteed parking ticket starting at $50 per vehicle.
Austin parks in the dark
Plenty of local parks will be in the path of totality for varying lengths of time, making them perfect places to watch the moon take over. Here are a few parks that will be in the path and how long they're expected to be dark, according to the City of Austin.
- Colony Park (7201 Colony Loop Drive) – 1 minute, 10 seconds
- Onion Creek Soccer Complex (5600 William Cannon Drive) – 33 seconds
- Roy G. Guerrero Metropolitan Park (400 Grove Blvd.) – 1 minute, 7 seconds
- Gus Garcia District Park (1201 Rundberg Lane) – 1 minute, 57 seconds
- Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park (907 W. Slaughter Lane) – 1 minute, 12 seconds
- Pickfair Pocket Park (10904 Pickfair Drive) – 3 minutes
- Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park (12138 N. Lamar Blvd.) – 2 minutes, 15 seconds
- Great Lawn at Zilker Metropolitan Park (Barton Springs Road) – 1 minute, 44 seconds
- Butler Metro Park (1000 Barton Springs Road) – 1 minute, 44 seconds
- Commons Ford Ranch Park (614 Commons Ford Road) – 2 minutes, 53 seconds
The Connelly G. Guerrero Senior Activity Center will also host a livestream of the eclipse on April 8. On hand, there will be a LightSound device to help people with visual impairments experience the eclipse.
RELATED: UT hosts building workshop for device to make upcoming eclipse more accessible for blind community
The Zilker Botanical Garden will also have free entry on April 8 so visitors can watch the eclipse from there.
Austin Public Library eclipse parties
Several Austin Public Library branches will host free viewing parties for all ages, complete with crafts, viewing glasses and more. Here's a list of participating branches and watch party times:
- Hampton Branch at Oak Hill (5125 Convict Hill Road) – noon to 2 p.m.
- Menchacha Road Branch (5500 Menchacha Road) – 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- North Village Branch (2505 Steck Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Old Quarry Branch (7051 Village Center Drive) – noon to 2 p.m.
- Pleasant Hill Branch (211 E. William Cannon Drive) – 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Twin Oaks Branch (1800 S. Fifth St.) – noon to 2 p.m.
- Willie Mae Kirk Branch (3101 Oak Springs Drive) – noon to 2 p.m.
- Windsor Park Branch (5833 Westminster Drive) – noon to 2 p.m.
The Long Center for the Performing Arts will host a free eclipse viewing party starting at 11 a.m. on April 8, as part of the Simons Foundations' larger "In the Path of Totality" initiative.
The Long Center is located at 701 W. Riverside Drive.
As we mentioned, Austin isn't the only Central Texas are in the path of totality. Here's a look at some other eclipse happenings going on in our area on April 8.
CapMetro Eclipse-nic
Capital Metro will host a "Cosmic celebration" at Leander Rail Station to watch the eclipse. The first 250 guests to arrive at the "Eclipse-nic" picnic and viewing party will receive complementary lunch and picnic blankets. Complimentary glasses are available for all who attend.
The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, April 8, at the Leander Rail Station at 800 N. U.S. 183.
CapMetro will have a special rail schedule on the day to get to and from Leander with greater ease.
Texas State Parks in the dark
Those interested in a more woodsy experience can check out the eclipse in one of Central Texas' many state parks:
- Blanco State Park – 101 Park Road in Blanco
- Enchanted Rock State Natural Area – 16710 Ranch Road 965 in Fredericksburg
- Inks Lake State Park – 3630 Park Road 4 West in Burnet
- Longhorn Cavern State Park – 6211 Park Rd. 4 South in Burnet
- Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site – 199 Park Road 52 in Stonewall
- McKinney Falls State Park – 5808 McKinney Falls Parkway in Austin
- Old Tunnel State Park – 10619 Old San Antonio Road in Fredericksburg
- Pedernales Falls State Park – 2585 Park Road 6026 in Johnson City
There are 31 Texas state parks where the eclipse will be visible. For those looking to view the phenomenon outside of Central Texas, check out additional spots here.
Just north of Austin, Williamson County will also be in the path of totality for a total of two hours and 40 minutes. Attendees are welcome to visit River Ranch County Park, located at 194 Reveille Way, for a viewing party.
Visibility is expected from 12:18 to 2:58 p.m. with 1:37 p.m. as the time for maximum darkness.
Also in Williamson County, eclipse enthusiasts can enjoy Rocket Dogs, MoonPie Milkshakes, CELSIUS Cosmic Vibes and more April 8 at Dell Diamond.
Located at the field, The Round Rock Express is hosting 'Total Eclipse of the Park,' with gates open between 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Anyone who purchases a game ticket for April 9-11 can expect to receive a free eclipse event ticket, as well. Those only interested in eclipse tickets can order them online starting at $10 each plus any additional fees, available now.
Glasses are to be given out on the day of the event.
The City of Georgetown is also hosting several "Here Comes the Sun" viewing events:
- Inner Space Cavern – 4200 S. IH-35
- Southwestern University Campus – 1001 E. University Ave.
- Garey Park – 6450 RM 2243
- Lake Georgetown – 500 Lake Overlook Dr.
- Berry Springs Park and Preserve – 1801 C.R. 152
Hays County is home to several cities that will have a view of the eclipse, including Dripping Springs and Wimberley. Both of these towns will be in the path of totality starting at 1:34 p.m., with Dripping Springs set for approximately 3 minutes of darkness.
Want to attend eclipse events with others in Burnet County? Here are a couple of options:
- Texas Eclipse at Traditions, April 5-8 at Texas True Venue, LLC, located at 7041 N. U.S. Hwy 281. in Burnet General admission prices start at $25
- Texas Eclipse Festival, April 5-9 at Reveille Peak Ranch, located at 105 County Road 114 in Burnet. General admission packages start at $150 for car camping, with VIP and multi-day pricing available online.
Fredericksburg
Popular travel destination Fredericksburg is offering public and paid viewing locations throughout the city.
Public viewing spots include Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, located at 432 Lady Bird Drive, and Marktplatz, located at 114 W. Main St. There is also paid eclipse viewing available at the Tres Molinos Ranch & Resort, located at 4260 N. Ranch Road 793 in Harper.
Below are a few eclipse-themed events planned in and around Fredericksburg on April 8:
- 2024 Eclipse in the Flowers at Wildseed Farms (100 Legacy Drive)
- 2024 Solar Eclipse Festival at Grapetown (8142 Old San Antonio Road)
- Ab Astris Eclipse Event at Ab Astris Winery (320 Klein Road in in Stonewall)
- Arch Ray Resort Solar Eclipse Fest featuring Goo Goo Dolls (4160 E. U.S. Hwy. 290)
- Eclipse Viewing Party at Texas Wine Collective (10354 US 290)
- Eclipse Watch Party at Messina Hof Hill Country Winery (9996 US 290)
- Hondo's Eclipse Party at Luckenbach (412 Luckenbach Town Loop)
- Solar Eclipse Party at Slate Theory Winery (10915 US 290)
- Total Eclipse Private Viewing Event at Arrowhead Creek Vineyards (13502 East US 290 in Stonewall)
Bastrop
The Bastrop Museum and Visitor Center is hosting a watch party, Bastrop's Solar Eclipse: Past & Present, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 904 Main St. in Downtown Bastrop. The indoor/outdoor event is free and open to the public.
Lampasas County
Finally, if you're hoping to catch the eclipse a little outside the KVUE viewing area, you can look to the skies of Lampasas County at these locations:
- AGRO Tech Viewing Party (1752 N. U.S. Hwy 281) – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Single-day parking passes start at $250 per space
- Beyond the Horizon (580 Sports Complex, 2351 FM 580) – April 6-8. Tickets start at $200 for a two-day camping pass and $400 for recreational vehicles
- Broken B Views viewing party (10088 County Road 1255) – April 5-10
- Celestial Camping (371 CR 2200) – April 4-9
- Cosmic Campout (105 EE Ohmneiss) – April 6-8. Tickets are available for $200 for a two-night trip.
- Donner Musik: Solar Eclipse Musik Fest (6443 E. Hwy 190) –April 6-8 at Hamlet's Farm
- Solar Eclipse Event (7360 E. Hwy 190) – April 5-8 at Our Friends Campground. Admission starts at $40 per person.
- Solar Eclipse Watch Party (Oil State Industries 1720 Central Texas Expressway) – April 6-8
- 2024 Eclipse RV Camping (18727 W. FM 580) – April 7-9
- Grady Groves Ranch Solar Eclipse Camp Out (11710 N. U.S. Highway 281) – April 6-10
- Kfire Winery and Vineyard viewing (3029 County Road 212) – April 7-8
- Lampasas County Solar Eclipse Campsites (Goat Pen RV Community, 370 County Road 3073) – April 5-11
- Lights Out Lometa (L&B Roadhouse BBQ, 17346 N. Hwy 183) – April 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- 2024 Solar Eclipse (MEMAW'S, 1902 E. Ave. F. ) – April 7-8
- Naruna General Store RV and Camping Eclipse Viewing (8652 FM 1478) – April 5-9
- Party in Our Backyard Eclipse Concert (TTP Estates RV Parking & Campsite, 322 County Road) – April 4-9
- The Sun Festival (Lometa Regional Park, 15115 U.S. 183) – April 4-9
- Torr La Lochs Vineyard & Winery (7055 S. State Hwy 29) – April 7-9
- Johnson Acres Eclipse Parking (291 PR 2215) – April 6-9. Fees cost $125 each night
The eclipse won't be visible in Texas again until sometime after 2045, so now is the chance to experience this unique moment.