April 8 is a once-in-a-lifetime experience

What are Your Plans for April 8?

April 8 is International Romani Day, It’s also National Empanada Day, National Zoo Lovers Day, and National All is Ours Day, which is about “noticing nature and the world around you and taking pleasure in the beauty you see.” That last one seems to fit the once-in-a-lifetime event that’s also happening that day – the Total Solar Eclipse, which will occur in a band from Mexico through to Canada, including Northern Vermont. The actual period of Totality – when the moon will completely block the sun – begins at about 3:25pm – and will last as long as 3 and a half minutes, depending on where you are. The coverage in Vermont will be from the Canadian border east to Derby, south to Middlebury, Montpelier, and St. Johnsbury.

Vermont will be seeing a number of visitors coming for the eclipse – estimates range from 36,000 to 145,000 people. Already, many hotels have sold out in the Chittenden County area, charging hundreds of dollars a night. Many schools in the path of totality will be on half-day schedules.

Be Prepared:

• The most important thing to remember during the eclipse is the need to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. Some towns, schools and libraries will be offering free viewing glasses, but you may want to order a pair just to be sure. The American Astronomical Society website lists reputable vendors: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters
• Several ski areas and resorts are hosting paid events and the Fairbanks Museum will be the site of free live coverage of the eclipse with Vermont Public. There are also free town-based events along the path of the eclipse. The state’s tourism website http://tinyurl.com/bdhy8sx2 lists events ranging from the Alburgh Totality Festival to many in the Burlington area to the Worcester Eclipse Party.
• You’ll want to plan ahead for lots of traffic after the event; visitors may arrive gradually, a day or two before the eclipse, but it’s likely many more will depart around the same time, soon after it ends. If you can, avoid major routes when visitors are leaving. You may want to get your errands done earlier in the day. Sign up for VT Alerts about any major traffic conditions: https://vem.vermont.gov/vtalert. Check conditions of major routes: https://www.newengland511.org/Home/.
• There are many resources and articles about the Total Solar Eclipse:
  • https://www.vermont.gov/eclipse
  • Weather forecasts – it’s likely to be cloudy: https://eclipsophile.com/2024tse/#Eclipse-day_planning
  • https://www.sevendaysvt.com/category/2024-solar-eclipse-39625296
  • https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/faq/
  • https://www.vermontpublic.org/2024-total-solar-eclipse-vermont