🎵A total eclipse of the heart….. at least for some New Yorkers.
Mark your calendars, a solar eclipse is coming to New York on April 8. Total solar eclipses occur in the same place once every 400 years, a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Even though New York City will only experience a partial solar eclipse, it will still be an impressive sight to see. Because you know ‘how we do’ in NYC – we always go big– we’ve rounded up a list of celebratory events happening right here in the city (plus what you need to know in case you decide to head north and see the eclipse in full).
Where to go in NYC
In NYC, the eclipse will begin at 2:10 p.m.and end at 4:36 p.m., reaching around 91% totality at 3:25 p.m.. Now, I’m not condoning playing hooky, but if there’s something worth skipping school for, a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse is definitely one of them. Besides, I’m pretty sure your kid will gain some cool points with the science teacher.
In a city with such tall buildings, the best place to get a glimpse is in a park or on the waterfront. Or, if you’re lucky enough to have access to a rooftop, even better. Just be sure you purchase a pair of special solar eclipse glasses in time. There are also some pretty cool events taking place across the city, with fun activities leading up to the phenomenon.
Eclipse Watch Party at the New York Hall of Science
The New York Hall of Science will host an eclipse watch party from 1 to 5 p.m. There will be a DJ, vendors from the Queens Night Market, fun activities, and a partial eclipse viewing with free glasses for safe viewing. Read more.
Viewing party at Wave Hill
Meanwhile, in the Bronx, there will be an eclipse viewing party on the beautiful grounds of Wave Hill from 12 to 5 p.m. Visitors will have the chance to pot up some seeds, make a festive eclipse party hat or celestial floral headband, enjoy live music and storytime with the Riverdale Library, and see the eclipse with the free viewing glasses provided. Read more.
Solar Eclipse Day at the American Museum of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History will have family-friendly educational activities and will give out eclipse glasses while supplies last, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Read more.
Greenwood Cemetery
In Brooklyn, the Greenwood Cemetery will host a free event from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Attendees will enjoy special-edition glasses and telescopes equipped with solar filters. There will also be amateur astronomers to help operate telescopes and answer questions relating to the eclipse, along with self-guided explorations and artist-led activations, a community mural, and more. Read more.
New York State Parks
Events will also take place at several New York State parks in the five boroughs; see more below.
The total eclipse
If you’re down for a road trip to experience the eclipse in full, it will reach the western part of New York State around 2 p.m., and six different counties will get the total eclipse experience. The eclipse will reach totality at 3:17 p.m. in Jamestown and continue northeast to Plattsburgh. These locations could reach total darkness for up to four minutes:
- Jamestown
- Buffalo
- Rochester
- Syracuse
- Watertown
- Plattsburgh
Unique events upstate
I Love NY, the official tourism website from the New York Department of Economic Development, has this handy guide to the eclipse with exact times, viewing spots, and events. Here are some of our favorites:
Free community event in the Adirondacks
Head to the Adirondacks for a free community event at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake. It includes free solar viewing glasses, telescope and binocular stations, livestream of NASA coverage, a silent disco, and more. Learn more.
See a pink sky in Niagara Falls
Watch the eclipse from a natural wonder. As a bonus, you will see the rainbow that typically forms above the falls go from multicolored to completely pink. Learn more.
Take a solar eclipse train ride
Hop on the Eclipse Express on the A&A Railroad in Arcade, New York. The first 200 passengers will receive free viewing glasses. Learn more.
State Parks & Historic Sites
Governor Kathy Hochul also announced that New York State parks and historic sites will host a range of events and activities to celebrate the big day. Events will be held in locations both within the path of totality and ones where a partial eclipse can be seen, including right here in NYC.
Within the path of totality:
- Allegany State Park
- Buffalo Harbor State Park
- Knox Farm State Park
- Lake Erie State Park
- Long Point State Park on Lake Chautauqua
- Midway State Park
- Niagara Falls State Park
- Woodlawn Beach State Park
- Cayuga Lake State Park
- Fair Haven Beach State Park
- Ganondagan State Historic Site
- Selkirk Shores State Park
- Crown Point State Historic Site
- Cumberland Bay State Park
- Wellesley Island State Park
- John Brown Farm
Outside the path of totality (partial eclipse)
- John Boyd Thacher State Park
- Connetquot River State Park Preserve
- Sunken Meadow State Park
- Bear Mountain State Park
- Minnewaska State Park
- Rockefeller State Park Preserve
- Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve (Staten Island)
- Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park (Roosevelt Island)
- Gantry Plaza State Park (Queens)
- Marsha P. Johnson State Park (Brooklyn)
- Shirley Chisholm State Park (Brooklyn)
- Riverbank State Park (Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park) (Manhattan)
- Roberto Clemente State Park (Bronx)
Whether you make it a full-on adventure or simply catch the NASA coverage while running out to the stoop to catch a glimpse, we hope you get the chance to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
