Eclipse Over Texas 2024

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About The Event

This celestial occasion will be celebrated rain or shine! There will be plenty of activities that do not depend on the sun.

  • Gates open at 8 a.m.
  • There is a clear bag policy
  • Re-entry is not permitted

Admission to the event includes one pair of ISO-certified solar glasses and access to all public areas of the event, which includes:

  • Guided eclipse viewing by expert astronomers
  • Access to telescopes
  • Educational science activities
  • Food trucks

Park & Ride

Free shuttle service will be available from Heritage Square in Downtown Waco to McLane Stadium. Free parking is available throughout the Downtown area. Premium parking is available at McLane Stadium.

Ticket Options

  • General Admission - Adult $20+booking fee
    Each ticket has 1 free pair of ISO-certified solar glasses and access to all public areas of the event except the VIP Experience.

  • General Admission - Child 5 - 17 yrs old $10+booking fee
    Each ticket has 1 free pair of ISO-certified solar glasses and access to all public areas of the event except the VIP Experience.

  • General Admission - Child 4 and Under Free
    Each ticket has 1 free pair of ISO-certified solar glasses and access to all public areas of the event except the VIP Experience.

  • School Groups General Admission - K to 12th Grade $5+booking fee per person
    Kindergarten through 12th grade school groups can purchase tickets for the eclipse at a special discounted rate! A minimum of 10 students per group is required in order to receive the discount. Group pricing applies to each student, teacher, and chaperone.

  • (Sold Out) VIP Experience $75+booking fee
    Enjoy a comfortable, intimate eclipse viewing experience with a VIP Experience Ticket! In addition to the benefits of general admission, VIP tickets provide access to an exclusive viewing area, reserved seating for science talks, a special STEAM zone, and more. Each ticket comes with a pair of ISO-certified solar glasses. Premium parking sold separately.

  • (Sold Out) Premium Parking at McLane Stadium $25+booking fee
    Vehicle must fit in a standard parking spot.

Buy Tickets

Parking

Waco Transit System will provide a free shuttle service to the event from Heritage Square in Downtown Waco to McLane Stadium starting at 8 a.m. Free parking is available throughout the Downtown area within walking distance of the shuttle service.

Flying Into Waco?

Waco Regional Airport and its affiliates are committed to providing the best possible flight experience for visitors traveling to see the 2024 Solar Eclipse.

Start the SurveyAll travelers (commercial or private), please take a minute to let us know about your upcoming visit.


Make a ReservationAll private aircraft need to make a reservation with our FBO, Texas Aero for parking and drop-off.


***NOTICE***
TSA regulations prohibit camping or remaining inside the restricted areas of the airport overnight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I bring into the event?

  • Clear bags, totes, and purses are required for security.
  • Service animals are welcome
  • Blankets
  • Clear non-glass water bottles (Water refill stations will be available.)
  • Personal camera
  • Strollers
  • Chair backs and cushions
  • Scooters required for mobility
  • Camp chairs with an attached canopy are allowed.
  • Accessibility equipment
  • Telescopes, cameras, video cameras, tripods, and related gear are allowed but are required to be registered by March 1, 2024. Register your telescope.

What is not allowed?

  • Non-clear bags, totes, or purses
  • Glass bottles or containers
  • Artificial noisemakers
  • BBQ grills
  • Firearms/weapons
  • Drones
  • Pets (other than service animals)
  • Tents or canopies
  • Items deemed inappropriate by security or event staff
  • Vendors who are not permitted for the event
  • Scooters, bikes, roller skates, skateboards
  • Diaper bags are allowed but must be a clear bag
  • Coolers
  • Outside snacks or food (other than baby food or formula)
  • Tobacco products of any kind
  • Backpacks
  • Banners & Signs
  • Fireworks or explosives of any kind

Can I come and go from the event?

Please bring what you need for the day, because re-entry is not allowed. Only authorized personnel and volunteers can come and go. This is due to security requirements.

Will vendors accept cash?

Vendors will accept credit/debit card payment only. This includes all food and merchandise sales. Please bring your credit or debit card as re-entry will not be allowed.

More Information

What is an eclipse?

An eclipse occurs when one astronomical object, such as a moon or planet, moves into the shadow of another one. As the Moon orbits around the Earth, sometimes the Moon lands between the Sun and Earth. When this happens, the Moon blocks the light of the Sun from reaching Earth, causing a solar eclipse. During a solar eclipse, the Moon casts a shadow onto Earth.

For a total eclipse to occur, the Sun, Moon, and Earth must be in a direct line. During a total eclipse, the Moon lines up perfectly to fully obscure the Sun, resulting in "totality." A total solar eclipse is only visible from a small area on Earth. The sky becomes very dark, as if it were night.

Path of the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

 

Tracking the Moment

(Central Time Zone)

  • 8 a.m. – Gates open
  • 8 a.m. – Complimentary Shuttle Begins
  • 12:20 p.m. – First Contact (moon touches sun’s edge)
  • 1:38 p.m. – Totality begins
  • 1:40 p.m. – Maximum Eclipse
  • 1:42 p.m. – Totality Ends
  • 3:00 p.m. – Last Contact
  • 4:00 p.m. – Festival Ends
  • 5:00 p.m. – Shuttle transportation ends

Eclipse Safety

Looking directly at the Sun can cause permanent eye damage or even blindness. Special eclipse safety glasses must always be used during a solar eclipse. Remember, sunglasses are not safe. The only time it is safe to look at a total eclipse without proper eye protection is during the brief period of "totality" when the Sun is 100 percent blocked by the Moon. Attempting to view an eclipse using binoculars, telescopes, cameras, or other devices that don't have their own special front-mounted solar filters is extremely hazardous.

Admission to the Eclipse Over Texas: Live From Waco event includes one pair of ISO-certified solar glasses.

Indirect Viewing Method (from NASA)

If you don’t have eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer, you can use an indirect viewing method, which does not involve looking directly at the Sun.

One way is to use a pinhole projector, which has a small opening (for example, a hole punched in an index card) and projects an image of the Sun onto a nearby surface. With the Sun at your back, you can then safely view the projected image. 

Do NOT look at the Sun through the pinhole!

When

  • Monday, April 08, 2024 | 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Location

Broadcast LIVE from Waco on Discovery Channel

McLane Stadium South Plaza & Touchdown Alley, 1001 S. MLK Jr. Blvd., Waco, TX, 76701, View Map

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