The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse is an event of a lifetime.
Indianapolis is directly in the path of totality, and although the moon will only cover the sun for 3-4 minutes — depending on where you are located — organizations around the city are planning all-day celebrations. The Recorder put together a list of a few Eclipse celebrations to enjoy with the whole family.
Blackout at the Biergarten
The Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St.
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$15 general admission; $10 for students
The Athenaeum’s eclipse celebration in the Rathskeller Biergarten will feature live music, food and drinks, and Sun King Brewery’s eclipse-themed beer, The Path of Totality. The event is open to all ages, and tickets include a pair of eclipse glasses and commemorative beer glass.
Conner Prairie Total Eclipse 2024 Festival
Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$55 for non-member; $40 for members
Conner Prairie will transform for the 2024 solar eclipse, with live performances, activities and guest speakers such as South Bend dance company UZIMA, musical act Stella Luna & the Satellites, astronaut Mark Broan and MSD Wayne Township District Scientist in Residence Rick Crosslin. Guests 2 and older will receive a pair of eclipse glasses.
Eclipse Extravaganza
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St.
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tickets are free for members; $25-$29.75 for Indiana residents
Offering fun for all ages, the Children’s Museum will have hands-on activities, STEM equipment, tools and educators on hand throughout the day of the eclipse and the weekend prior — including stations exploring the history of eclipses, a NASA live stream and telescope viewing.
Eclipse Viewing Experience
Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium, 4600 Sunset Ave.
Noon to 4:30 p.m.
Free
Butler University is canceling classes for the day to allow students and the community to watch the eclipse on campus. The Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium will have 14 telescopes with solar filters for safe viewing, NASA live stream, food trucks, music and free parking. There will also be experts on hand to answer questions and solar scientists from the National Center for Atmospheric Research collecting data and doing demonstrations.
Indy Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
Sun King Brewery, 135 N. College Ave.
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free
The Simons Foundation and Sun King Brewery are coming together for a special eclipse brew, The Path of Totality. Guests can join Sun King Brewery in the parking lot for a free viewing of the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, complete with activities for all ages.
Lunacy!
White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free
With hammocks, chairs and water viewing, White River State Park is an ideal choice for eclipse viewing. Guests can enjoy all the park has to offer throughout the day, including free yoga classes by NIFS, a brass quintet by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and 20 food trucks with a food competition. Glasses are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Solar Eclipse Campout 2024
Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St.
9 a.m.
$25-$100
In partnership with WTHR, the Indiana State Fairgrounds are opening for the eclipse. Guests are invited to camp out for the event and celebrate with a festival full of science, live entertainment and a bar with eclipse-themed food and drinks.
Total Solar Eclipse Celebration
Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St.
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tickets range from $2-$20; registration encouraged
The Indiana State Museum will open to the community for a day full of hands-on and kid-friendly activities, live demonstrations, fun facts, collaborative art and science experiments. Guests can watch the eclipse on the front lawn or watch a live stream from the IMAX theater. Eclipse glasses are available while supplies last.
Total Eclipse of the Art
Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Road
11 a.m.
Tickets start at $29 for members; $34 for non-members
View the Total Solar Eclipse from The Garden at Newfields, with live music, DJs, fire performers, food and drink vendors, and more. Tickets include general admission to Newfields and The Lume.
2024 Total Solar Eclipse Event
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W. 16th St.
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
$20
Indianapolis Motor Speedway is partnering with NASA as one of few broadcast locations for the eclipse. Complete with a day of science and entertainment programming, IMS will offer youth STEM activities, a data balloon launch, track tours, IndyCar demo laps, autograph sessions and more.
Contact staff writer Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @chloe_mcgowanxx.
