It's Going To Be A Total Eclipse of Toledoans Hearts On April 8th
The next total solar eclipse to visit North America will be April 8, 2024. Eeek! That’s less than a week away! The duration of totality will be up to 4 minutes and 27 seconds, almost double that of The Great American Eclipse of August 21, 2017. The 2017 total solar eclipse was witnessed by about 20 million people from Oregon to South Carolina, and the upcoming 2024 Great American Eclipse is sure to be witnessed by many millions more.
In the US, totality will begin in Texas at 1:27 pm CDT and will end in Maine at 3:35 pm EDT on April 8, 2024.
The last total solar eclipse visible in Toledo was in 1806, and the next one won’t be visible until 2099. The eclipse will be visible at different times in different locations, with the farther southeast you are, the more totality you’ll get. If you’ve never seen a total solar eclipse before, put it on your bucket list and plan to experience a whole weekend of programming leading up to the historic event in the Toledo Region!
In Toledo the partial eclipse will begin at 1:56 p.m. EDT and the total eclipse begins at 3:13 p.m. EDT. Start times and duration will differ depending on where within Toledo you choose to be. The duration will likely be somewhere around 1 minute and 47 seconds and the partial eclipse will end at 4:26 p.m.
Estimates show that anywhere from 139,000-556,000 visitors will be in Ohio during the total solar eclipse. Here in Toledo, the population of Lucas County could double on April 8. On the day of the event, there will be traffic, limited parking, and crowds.
The Ohio Department of Transportation created an interactive map detailing four different scenarios of what the roads will look like on April 8. Scenario 1 showcases what an influx of 150,000 people would look like, scenario 2 details what 350,000 people would look like, and so forth.
Here are some events in Toledo related to the eclipse:
Best Places To See the Eclipse in Toledo
Solar Eclipse Viewing Party in Festival Park
Grab your solar eclipse glasses and get ready for a total day of solar eclipse fun. Join Imagination Station in Festival Park for an outdoor celebration as they count down to totality — happening at 3:12 pm.
Enjoy food from some of the area’s best local eateries, games, hands-on science activities and prime viewing for the solar eclipse. Throughout the event, talk to our eclipse experts to learn about the science behind the eclipse, why this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and prepare to be amazed.
The Solar Eclipse Viewing Party goes from 10-6 pm and is free to the public. Admission tickets are needed to enter the science center and will be available at the door.
Great Eclipse Campout at Metroparks Toledo
The Great Eclipse Campout is an event at Metroparks Toledo that takes place on April 8, 2024, when the moon will pass in front of the sun during a total solar eclipse. The eclipse will last up to 4 minutes and 27 seconds, which is almost double the length of the Great American Eclipse of 2017. The camp offers a variety of camping options, including cabins, tent platforms, traditional campsites, and Treehouse Village.
And let’s not forget our local universities!
BGSU will host a large-scale watch party during the hours before and after our three minutes of totality. This family-friendly event will include a variety of fun and educational activities, demonstrations, music, telescope viewing, food, and more! Solar eclipse glasses will be provided for safe viewing, free of charge for all in attendance. Free eclipse glasses will also be available for all BGSU students, faculty and staff in the weeks preceding the eclipse.
Total Eclipse at the Zoo – Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
When viewing an eclipse, safety is critical! According to the ASA, safe solar eclipse glasses should not show anything through them except the sun itself or the sun reflected on a bright surface, such as a mirror or shiny metal. So here’s a list of places where you can obtain safe viewing glasses from reputable sources.
City of Toledo (multiple locations)
The city will distribute eclipse glasses, while supplies last, to eclipse watchers at Promenade Park, Navarre Park and Joe E. Brown Park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Toledo Lucas County Public Library (multiple locations, Lucas County)
Perrysburg High School Theatre Department (multiple locations)
To promote their musical “Little Shop of Horrors,” which prominently features a total solar eclipse in its plot, the Perrysburg High School Theatre Department is passing out glasses to the public on Wednesday, April 3 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. while supplies last, at the following locations:
- Way Public Library (Perrysburg)
- Nothing Bundt Cakes (Perrysburg)
- O-Deer Diner (Perrysburg)
- Old House (Waterville)
Imagination Station (downtown Toledo)
According to the Imagination Station’s solar eclipse frequently asked questions page, you can purchase solar eclipse glasses at the museum’s gift shop, “Science2GO!” open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Solar eclipse glasses are not available to purchase online from the gift shop, but you can purchase an eclipse guide and a solar filter for a cell phone.
Click here for more information.
Metroparks Toledo (various locations, Lucas County)
Viewing parities will take place at both the Glass City Metropark and Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, rain or shine. If you’re in need of solar eclipse glasses, the Metroparks will hand out them out to borrow at both locations.
Where ever you may be for your Eclipse viewing experience, I hope it’s a moment you never forget. It’s amazing to think how many things had to happen for the sun, moon, and Earth to align perfectly for this total eclipse to occur. The moon’s distance from Earth and the angle and path of its orbit also have to line up just right. Total eclipses are even rarer because they’re only visible from a tiny fraction of Earth’s surface, less than 1%. This means that any one location on the planet is likely to see a total solar eclipse roughly every 350 years. One can’t help but feel in awe and appreciate just how lucky are we?
