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Those making plans on how to watch the solar eclipse on April 8 could consider two special events being held by the Essex Region Conservation Authority.
Total Eclipse of the Park, set for John R. Park Homestead, is billed as a family friendly viewing event. Activities will include a sun and moon costume contest, a pinhole projector craft, time telling with the Sun stories, and a shadow theatre.
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Tickets for that event are available at essexregionconservation.ca/jrph-eclipse.
Celest-Fest takes place at Holiday Beach Conservation Area, which expects a 99.99 per cent total eclipse. It will will feature a kids craft area and nature walks and talks.
Guests will be encouraged to pay attention to their surroundings as animals like birds that are usually silent at night may abruptly stop singing, and insects like crickets that are active at night may start chirping,” Danielle Breault Stuebing, ERCA’s Director of Communications & Outreach said in a news release. “This is a rare and wonderful opportunity to witness first-hand how much of an impact the sun has on the planet and its inhabitants.
Tickets for the Holiday Beach event are available at essexregionconservation.ca/hbca-eclipse.
Each ticket at both locations includes a pair of ISO- and CE-Certified eclipse glasses. ERCA recommends wearing these viewing glasses at all times during the event.
Both locations will open at 9 a.m. and visitors are encouraged to arrive early as traffic volumes are expected to be high. Tickets are only available for pre-purchasing – no tickets will be available at the gate.
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“This is really a special occurrence, with the last total eclipse visible in our region in 1979, and the next one not anticipated for at least two decades,” Breault Stuebing said. “The chance to view the eclipse along the shoreline, in nature, with your family can be an awe-inspiring and memory-making experience.”
The eclipse begins at 1:59 p.m. and concludes at 4:29 p.m., with the total eclipse taking place from 3:13 p.m. – 3:17 p.m. in the Essex region, which will be the first region in mainland Canada to experience the eclipse, ERCA says.
Also on April 8, Hillman Marsh Conservation Area will be open for eclipse viewing. Parking will be allocated on a first come-first served basis. Those who watch the eclipse from Hillman Marsh must find their own viewing glasses.
Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee island has set up a website for information on the eclipse at visitwindsoressex.com/eclipse.
The website notes that a total eclipse will last for more than three minutes at Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island.
The total eclipse will last for more than 2.5 minutes at Point Pelee National Park and Seacliff Park & Beach.
A total eclipse of more than two minutes can be seen at Hillman Marsh and Lakeside Park.
And a total elcipse will last for more than 90 seconds at Colchester Beach and Harbour and Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
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