Volunteers still needed for eclipse

David Ganey, astronomy teacher at Jefferson City High School, explains the need for solar sunglasses during a Museum After Hours presentation Wednesday at the Capitol on the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse.
David Ganey, astronomy teacher at Jefferson City High School, explains the need for solar sunglasses during a Museum After Hours presentation Wednesday at the Capitol on the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse.

The solar eclipse is just over two weeks away and the final preparations for multiple activities continue.

The Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau met Wednesday night to update the public on a schedule for festivities surrounding the eclipse, which takes place at 1:15 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21.

Jill Snodgrass, the event coordinator for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the city is planning for approximately 40,000 visitors to come to Jefferson City over three days surrounding the eclipse, Aug. 19-21. Hotel rooms for dates around the event sold out months ago, but there is plenty of space for campers in North Jefferson City.

Snodgrass said 50-75 more volunteers are still needed for various jobs from guiding people around events to pouring beer.

"I do want to emphasize that the downtown area will be open on the day of the eclipse," she said. "The only area that will be closed will be part of High Street, from around Aris Pizza down to the intersection with Broadway Street."

Most festivities will take place at the North Jefferson City Recreation Area because it offers one of the best views of the eclipse in the city and has ample room for parking and camping. Festivities kick off Saturday, Aug. 19, with the Hotter N Hell 5K Fun Run. A corn maze in the shape of a solar eclipse will be in North Jefferson City near the Noren Access.

A mini-carnival with events for children will also be available in north Jefferson City.

A ticketed brunch is set 10 a.m.-noon Aug. 20, at Capitol Plaza Hotel, featuring Lebanon native and current NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins. Snodgrass said this event is almost sold out.

NASA is bringing its Journey to Tomorrow trailer to Jefferson City for the eclipse. The trailer is essentially a rolling museum. There's no cost to view the exhibits in the trailer, which will be open 1-5 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

Six different bike rides will also take place during the eclipse weekend.

The Eastside Business Association is sponsoring "Total Eclipse of the Park" from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday at Riverside Park with live music, activities for children, an artist village and sci-fi movies. During the eclipse, they will also have a cookout at the park from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday.

For more information about events during the eclipse, including how to volunteer, visit capitaleclipse.org or TotalEclipseofthePark.com.

This will be the first total solar eclipse, where the sun is completely blocked by the moon, visible from Missouri since 1492. It's the first of three solar eclipses visible in Jefferson City over the next seven years. The total eclipse this year will pass directly over Jefferson City, leaving the city in darkness for two minutes, 29 seconds.

A partial solar eclipse will be visible in Jefferson City on Oct. 14, 2023, and another solar eclipse will also be partially visible in April 2024. Southeastern Missouri will be completely covered by the 2017 and 2024 total eclipses, Vale said.