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White River State Park to Host LUNACY! Solar Eclipse Festival
Writer / Renee Larr
Photography Provided
On April 8 at 3:06 p.m. ET, North America will experience a total solar eclipse with Indianapolis in the path of totality – a rare occurrence that won’t happen again for Indianapolis until the year 2153. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the sun and putting the sky in complete darkness. The once-in-a-lifetime event will be celebrated throughout the Circle City, with over 100,000 visitors anticipated to see the celestial event.
White River State Park is hosting LUNACY! Solar Eclipse Festival on April 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is the best place in Indy to view the eclipse.
“There is no better place in Indianapolis to view this historic event,” says Jake Oakman, White River State Park executive director. “I like to call White River State Park Indianapolis’s backyard because if you look at the city, it is the largest area of green space. We have the largest area of cultural attractions and activities right here on our campus.”
The free event will include a convoy of over 20 food trucks on the old Washington Street Bridge serving food and drinks. Vendors will compete in a signature food competition. The flavorsome lineup of food trucks includes Arepas, Books Bourbon & Bacon, Bus Stop Bistro, Chef Dan’s, Delectable Cuisine Catering and many more.
“Some of the food trucks are locally well-known like Chef Dan’s and J’s Lobster Truck,” says Lizzie Nunn, director of events and visitor experience at White River State Park. “Many are creating a unique, signature dish specifically for the eclipse. Guests can vote on their favorite signature item.”
The National Institute for Fitness and Sport will be on hand to lead yoga and Tabata classes from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in Celebration Plaza Amphitheater, to get your mind, body and soul ready for the astronomical events. Nunn says the classes are geared toward beginners so that anyone can participate.
“The eclipse is viewed as a time of reflection and renewal in various cultures worldwide,” Nunn says. “So we thought this would be a great way to take a moment out of the day to meditate and contemplate before the eclipse.”
White River State Park is hosting an Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra brass quartet performance at 2:30 p.m. Frank’s Paddlesports Livery will be on hand for guests who want to view the eclipse from the water. They will be renting out canoes and kayaks, and leading river tours.
“A lot of people don’t know this, but White River State Park is in between two levees,” Nunn says. “You have Belmont Beach and the Chevy Dam just south of the Washington Street Bridge. It’s an area that isn’t very heavily kayaked currently. We’d like to highlight and showcase it as a great area for those water activities. Viewing the eclipse from the water will be a unique way to experience it.”
Viewing a total solar eclipse without protective eyewear can burn the retina of your eye. For the safety of visitors, free solar eclipse glasses will be provided by IU Indianapolis and can be picked up at the park’s visitor center. They are on a first-come, first-served basis, so early arrival is recommended.
“We want everyone to view the eclipse safely, so we went the extra step and had all the glasses approved for use by the IU School of Optometry,” Nunn says. “Also, the event is rain or shine, and we want to give everyone the best experience regardless of the weather that day.”
White River State Park knows visitors sometimes need a quiet respite from the all-day action, so they’ve created an area called Nap Town where people can lounge in hammocks, play games and cuddle up in lounge chairs. White River State Park is also partnering with the Indianapolis Public Library and the Indiana State Library to host a…
This article was originally published by a townepost.com . Read the Original article here. .