The Great American Eclipse of 2024 is just a year away, and Waco, Texas, is gearing up to host an all-day event to celebrate this spectacular phenomenon. The Eclipse Over Texas 2024: Live from Waco will take place on the grounds of McLane Stadium on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Waco is situated in a prime location to experience the 2024 total solar eclipse because it is among the first cities located near the centerline of the eclipse path after the shadow enters the United States. As the last total solar eclipse to cross the United States for the next 20 years, this event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Visitors will have the chance to witness the Moon gradually pass in front of the Sun, and then experience totality starting at 1:38 pm CDT, when the Moon obscures all of the Sun’s disk, revealing the ethereal structure of the solar corona. This sight is visible only during the brief period of totality, which in Waco will last for four minutes and 13 seconds, until 1:42 pm CDT.
“The City of Waco looks forward to welcoming our residents and visitors from across the world to Eclipse Over Texas 2024: Live from Waco. This total eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we invite everyone to join us in experiencing this historic event,” said Dillon Meek, Mayor of the City of Waco.
Eclipse Over Texas 2024: Live from Waco will take place on the South Plaza and Touchdown Alley areas of Baylor University’s McLane Stadium, located on the banks of the Brazos River, where attendees will have an unobstructed view of the sky. The event is a collaborative effort of the City of Waco, Baylor University, Lowell Observatory, and Warner Brothers Discovery.
Ticketing for Eclipse Over Texas 2024: Live from Waco opens on March 31, 2023, at 12 pm CDT. Two ticket options are available. The general admission ticket includes access to guided eclipse viewing by expert solar astronomers, telescopes for public viewing, science presentations, interactive activities for all ages, one pair of solar glasses (ISO certified), memorabilia and souvenir vendors, and food trucks. The VIP experience provides a more comfortable and intimate total solar eclipse viewing opportunity, in addition to the benefits of general admission.
“This may be the only eclipse many of our guests experience in their lifetime, and we are honored they will gather for this moment on Baylor University’s campus”, says Dr. Jeremy Vickers, Associate Vice President for External Affairs at Baylor University.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. The phenomenon only lasts a few minutes, but it is a life-changing experience for so many people because of the surreal environment changes it brings, such as sharper shadows, cooler temperatures, and the sounds of animals that usually come out only at nighttime. The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, will be the last one visible from anywhere in the continental United States until August 23, 2044. It will also be the first one visible from Waco since July 29, 1878, and the last of this millennium—no total solar eclipse will be visible from Waco until after the year 3000.
“The visceral experience of totality is why people will travel across the country and around the world to see this event in Waco,” said Dr. Danielle Adams, Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer at Lowell Observatory.
Waco is ready to welcome visitors from all over the world to experience this celestial event.
Central Texas Reporter 