Visitors pose and take photos with enormous eclipse glasses in downtown Evansville

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - The Great American Eclipse is Monday, April 8, but officials with the Downtown Evansville Economic Improvement District are already celebrating.

They’ve organized special eclipse-focused initiatives ahead of the big event downtown on eclipse day.

One of them was photo opportunity with giant eclipse glasses Friday afternoon on Main Street.

The glasses measure seven-feet-long and were on display for guests to interact with and take photos.

The EID was also selling regular-sized eclipse glasses at a discounted rate of $2 each and encouraging visitors to pick up an Eclipse Explorer Passport.

”You can pick it up at nine businesses downtown. It’s really an opportunity for people to go in and check out our local shops and restaurants downtown,” explains Adam Trinkel, Executive Director for EID. “Buy some of the Eclipse branded merchandise and apparel, and then support these local businesses. And then on the event, on the day itself we are hosting a free community viewing event along riverside drive.”

When shoppers visit any of the nine participating locations (Emerald Design, Grateful Threads Fabric & Furnishings, Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream, Memo, Posh on Main, River City Coffee + Goods, River Kitty Cat Café, Sixth + Zero, and Your Brother’s Bookstore), they will receive a stamp on their passport from that business.

An additional stamp can be secured for a purchase at the business.

Each stamp is one entry to win a gift card to a downtown business.

Passports have been distributed to each business and should be returned to any of the participating locations by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9.

As for the big event on Monday, April 8, it’s free and starts at 11 a.m.

The event will feature sponsor booths and seven food trucks along Riverside Drive (from Court to Walnut Street).

Food trucks will include: Bruce Li, JB’s Barnyard, JT’s American on the Fly, Kona Ice, Lashbrooke’s BBQ, Rock-A-Burger, and Uncle G’s Lemon Smashers.

Free activities at Riverside and Main include face painting for children, photo points, and yard games.

The eclipse will be around 2 p.m.

If you missed the opportunity to take photos with the oversized eclipse glasses, they’ll be back on April 8 at the EID’s free event on Riverside Drive.

You can find all of our eclipse coverage right here.

Copyright 2024 WFIE. All rights reserved.