Summit County tourism head likens total eclipse day to hosting a Super Bowl in Greater Akron

Stay home and hunker down.

Go off and explore the sights.

Welcome to the mixed messages for the Great Eclipse 2024 in northern Ohio.

Gregg Mervis, president and CEO Akron Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau, says he gets it.

Why would county officials urge residents to stay home while at the same time folks like him want people to come visit Greater Akron to take in the total eclipse on April 8?

The reality is, Mervis said, the visitors are going to come no matter what.

And they could number in the tens of thousands with some estimates doubling the population of northern Ohio by visitors coming here to take in the celestial event that will only come once in a lifetime.

It is the crush of visitors that has planners worried particularly once it is all over and everyone tries to go home all at once.

The combination of local residents and visitors are expected to overwhelm roads and interstates in the region with traffic jams for the ages possible.

So this is all why, Mervis said, tourism folks are encouraging out-of-town visitors to arrive early and stay a day later.

There are some 5,000 hotel rooms in Summit County. And from what he's hearing, they are filling fast.

"Hotels are expecting to sell out," he said.

Eclipse is the 'opportunity' of a lifetime for Akron

For folks in the tourism business, it doesn't get any bigger or better than this.

It isn't likely that Akron, or Canton for that matter, will ever host a modern Super Bowl, but being in the path of a total eclipse might be the closest the region might ever get in terms of the number of potential visitors.

There may be no single event or stage bigger than this, Mervis said, so that's why it's important for the city and county to get it right.

"This is expected to be the largest influx of people into our community for a single-day event," he said.

The hope is visitors will come for the eclipse but come back again later to take in all the region has to offer from historical sites like Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens to natural wonders like the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Come for the eclipse and stay for the fun

Akron is well positioned along the path of totality to be in easy distance of a large number of potential visitors making it an attractive destination.

Mervis said they have been working with area restaurants and bars and attractions to make sure there's plenty to see and do before and after the eclipse.

They also want every business from gas stations to restaurants to be prepared for the potential influx of a lot of visitors all at once.

And the hope is, he said, local residents will join in the fun, too, and attend a special event and try out some of the special craft beers local breweries have created, and sample unique dishes and treats at area restaurants and ice cream places.

Local clothing companies − like Rubber City Clothing − have special designs to commemorate the big day.

Even some local touristy places are joining in, too.

The Akron Zoo is hosting special activities on the day of the eclipse and giving guests the chance to help track how the animals respond at the peak.

The Akron Art Museum is also planning special activities the day of the eclipse and a special exhibition of eclipse and solar-related art.

And the Summit County Fairgrounds plans to open the day of the eclipse for campers or those looking for a place to park and view the eclipse.

Parking is $30 and campsites are $50 a night.

In all, Mervis said, there are 30 or so events already planned around the county for locals and visitors.

"We're just trying to make sure everyone has access to all the activities that are out there," he said. "There's a ton of stuff to do.

"We have the best seat in the house for viewing the eclipse."

What's the eclipse timeline in Greater Akron?

The eclipse will start in Texas and then make its way across the country, passing over Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana before arriving in Ohio.

For Greater Akron, the eclipse will begin at 1:59 p.m. as the moon slowly casts its shadow across the sun.

Totality —or complete darkness — in Akron will be at 3:15 p.m. and last two minutes and 49 seconds.

It will slowly get brighter outside, and the eclipse will end at 4:29 p.m.

Findlay will experience totality between 3:10 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

For Cleveland, it will be totally dark between 3:13 p.m. 3:17 p.m.

And in Erie, Pennsylvania, the totality will be between 3:16 p.m. and 3:20 p.m.

What to expect when the eclipse happens?

Things will progress very slowly.

It will seem like nightfall once totality arrives.

Things will seem a bit off as it will get darker from above instead of from the west like it does when the sunsets at night.

At the peak of totality, it will be as dark as night in northern Ohio and street lights will come and birds will likely retreat to their nests.

The temperature is expected to drop by as many as 15 degrees.

And then, it will all happen in reverse.

It will get progressively brighter as more and more of the sun becomes exposed.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Summit County expects Northern Ohio population to double during eclipse