GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — For the first time since 2017, a total solar eclipse will be visible in parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada.
On Monday, April 8, the moon will move in front of the sun and cause millions in the U.S. to be in the path of totality, meaning they will be plunged into darkness in the middle of the afternoon.
While West Michigan will only be seeing about 93% totality, the sky will darken and shadows will appear on the ground in crescent moon shapes.
Across West Michigan, there will be watch parties for the community to gather and celebrate the eclipse together. Some of these events are organized by residents, but most are hosted by libraries, museums and other organizations.
Most of the watch parties are weather-dependent and free to attend.
Here's where you can find a watch party near you:
Grand Rapids
- Blandford Nature Center
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Watch party on the hill near the parking lot
- Glasses provided while supplies last
- Grand Rapids Public Museum
- 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Activities at the museum; watch party on the Blue Bridge
- Glasses on sale for $1.75 while supplies last
- Rosa Parks Circle
- Begins at noon
- Glasses not provided
- Lookout Park
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Glasses not provided
Kent County
- KDL East Grand Rapids branch
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Glasses provided while supplies last
- KDL Comstock Park branch
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Glasses provided while supplies last
- KDL Grandville branch
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Glasses provided while supplies last
- KDL Cascade Township branch
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Glasses provided while supplies last
- KDL Caledonia Township branch
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Glasses provided while supplies last
- KDL Byron Township branch
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Glasses provided while supplies last
- KDL Walker branch
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Glasses provided while supplies last
Muskegon County
- Muskegon Astronomical Society
- 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Glasses not provided
Ottawa County
- Grand Valley State University Physics Department
- 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Glasses provided
- Solar telescopes and a pinhole camera will also be there
- Herrick District Library (HDL) North branch
- 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Glasses provided while supplies last
- Hemlock Crossing Public Observatory
- 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Glasses not provided
- Patmos Library
- 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Glasses provided
- Crafts and activities inside after the eclipse
- Outdoor Discovery Center
- 1:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
- Glasses provided
Newaygo County
- Newaygo Area District Library block party
- Brooks Park in Newaygo
- Food trucks available from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Glasses provided to first 500 people
- Newaygo County Conservation District open house
- S. F. Wessling Observatory in Fremont
- 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Admission $5
- Glasses provided with admission
Kalamazoo County
- Air Zoo
- 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
- Activities and watch party
- Glasses provided while supplies last
- Parchment Community Library
- 1:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Glasses provided while supplies last
This is not an exhaustive list. If you know of a watch party that we didn't include in our list here, please send it to news@13onyourside.com.
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