Where to watch the 2024 solar eclipse in Greater Cincinnati
In just a couple of weeks, a sizeable chunk of the Buckeye State will experience complete darkness for a few minutes during the day when a total solar eclipse passes through for the first time in more than 200 years.
The last total eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806, and the next one won't occur until 2099.
The eclipse will cast a path of totality across North America, including a span from southwest to northeast Ohio that will affect cities like Toledo and Cleveland, according to nationaleclipse.com.
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Other Ohio cities, like Columbus and Cincinnati, reside slightly south of the path of totality and will experience a partial eclipse instead. National Eclipse estimates Cincinnati will experience 99.7% obscuration, meaning 99.7% of the sun will be covered by the moon.
Here's everything you need to know about Cincinnati's partial solar eclipse and which venues are hosting eclipse-viewing events in the region.
What date and time is the solar eclipse in 2024?
The eclipse takes place on Monday, April 8.
The total eclipse will last for approximately 3 minutes and 40 seconds in the Buckeye State. People in southwest Ohio may begin to see it at 3:05 p.m., NASA projects. Lima residents may see it at 3:10 p.m. and people in Akron and Cleveland may see it at 3:15 p.m.
Cincinnati will experience a partial eclipse around 3:09 p.m., according to National Eclipse.
Where to see the total solar eclipse near Cincinnati
The closest city to Cincinnati where the total eclipse will be viewable is Harrison, located just 20 miles northwest of the Queen City. There, the total eclipse will occur around 3:08 p.m.
Eclipse-viewing events in Greater Cincinnati
Here's a non-comprehensive list of eclipse-viewing events happening in Greater Cincinnati, listed in chronological order.
Here's what it means: Cincinnatians will see a partial solar eclipse in 2024
Woodland Altars near Serpent Mound, Peebles
Date: April 6-8
Time: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
Address: 33150 State Route 41, Peebles
Learn more: Star Knowledge Solar Eclipse Peace Summit. Gather for the solar eclipse. Music, dancing, vendors and ceremony. Family-friendly. $88 for three days, $44 single day, free for children. Optional on-site lodging $60 for three nights, $30 single. Learn more on Eventbrite.
Oxford
Date: April 7
Time: 2:30-10:30 p.m.
Learn more: Eclipse Weekend Space Movie Marathon. Enjoy "Muppets from Space" at 2:30 p.m. at Lane Public Library (441 S. Locust St.), "The Martian" at Oxford Community Arts Center (10 S. College Ave.) and "E.T." at 8:30 p.m. at Uptown Park (2 E. High St.). Free. Learn more on Facebook.
Great Wolf Lodge, Mason
Date: April 8
Time: all day
Address: 2501 Great Wolf Drive, Mason
Learn more: Howl at the Moon: The Solar Eclipse Watch Party. Enjoy an outdoor watch party with themed music, dance, crafts and more. Partygoers get free eclipse viewing glasses and special wolf ears. Learn more at the Great Wolf Lodge website.
Marcum Park, Hamilton
Date: April 8
Time: all day
Address: 116 Dayton St., Hamilton
Learn more: Total Eclipse Viewing. Family-friendly events, eclipse-themed souvenirs, grab and go refreshments and more. Learn more at the Travel Butler County website.
Miami Whitewater Forest, Harrison
Date: April 8
Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Address: 9001 Mt. Hope Road, Harrison
Learn more: Total Solar Eclipse Watch Party. This park is in the path of totality, with darkness expected at 3:08 p.m. Arrive early for a good spot to view. Great Parks interpreters will be present with a limited supply of eclipse glasses at no charge on a first-come, first-serve basis. Animal ambassadors, yard games and information stations. Free. Learn more at the Great Parks of Hamilton County website.
Parky’s Farm, Springfield Township
Date: April 8
Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Address: 10073 Daly Road, Springfield Township
Learn more: Solar Eclipse Watch Party. This event is not in the path of totality. Great Parks interpreters will be present to guide you through the viewing experience. A limited supply of eclipse glasses available at no charge on a first-come, first-serve basis. Free. Learn more at the Great Parks of Hamilton County website.
Sharon Woods, Sharonville
Date: April 8
Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Address: 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville
Learn more: Solar Eclipse Watch Party. This event is not in the path of totality. Great Parks interpreters will be present to guide you through the viewing experience. A limited supply of eclipse glasses available at no charge on a first-come, first-serve basis. Free. Learn more at the Great Parks of Hamilton County website.
Niederman Farm, Liberty Township
Date: April 8
Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Address: 5110 Lesourdsville West Chester Road, Liberty Township
Learn more: Total Eclipse of the Farm. Admission includes eclipse glasses. Bring chairs or blankets, enjoy over 20 family-friendly activities. $20-$40. Learn more at the Niederman Family Farm website.
EnterTrainment Junction, West Chester
Date: April 8
Time: 11:30-4:30 p.m.
Address: 7379 Squire Court, West Chester
Learn more: Special Eclipse Day. Experience the “magic of totality” and receive your own pair of eclipse viewing glasses. Kids can make Moon Goo and enjoy coloring and activity sheets. Free. Learn more here.
Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati
Date: April 8
Time: noon-4 p.m.
Address: 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Learn more: Eclipse Party. Enjoy games, music and fun activities in celebration of the solar eclipse. Free. Learn more at the Washington Park website.
Moerlein Lager House, The Banks, Cincinnati
Date: April 8
Time: noon-5 p.m.
Address: Schmidlapp Event Lawn, 124 E. Mehring Way, The Banks
Learn more: The Great Eclipse in the Sky Party. Free solar glasses giveaway and eclipse watch party. Everything Cincy is giving away solar eclipse glasses to the first 500 people registered for the event. Visit moerleinlagerhouse.info/solar-glasses/ to redeem free glasses using the code EVERYTHINGCINCY. Registrants will receive a QR code to use on-site to pick up the glasses at Moerlein Lager House on Monday, beginning at noon.
Middletown Business District, Middletown
Date: April 8
Time: noon-4 p.m.
Address: 1050 Central Ave. and 1131 Central Ave., Middletown
Learn more: Planning for Darkness. Explore the business district and enjoy eclipse-themed activities. Eclipse glasses available while supplies last. Learn more at the Downtown Middletown website.
Cincinnati Observatory, Mount Lookout, Cincinnati
Date: April 8
Time: 1-4:30 p.m.
Address: 3489 Observatory Place, Mount Lookout
Learn more: Eclipse Viewing Party. Enjoy family-friendly activities, crafts, games, sundial demonstrations and safe solar viewing opportunities. Food trucks onsite, and picnics are welcome. $10 adults, $5 kids and members. Learn more at the Cincinnati Observatory website.
Bellevue, Kentucky
Date: April 8
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Address: 119 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue
Learn more: Eclipse & Sips. View the solar eclipse and sip mocktails by Molly Wellman. Taking place on the upper deck of the MRBL parking lot. Light bites, mocktails, space education, kids activities and music. Learn more at the Visit Cincy website.
Uptown Oxford Historic District
Date: April 8
Time: 1-5 p.m.
Addresses: Watch parties at three locations: Oxford Community Park, 6801 Fairfield Road, Oxford; Sculpture Park at the Richard & Carole Cocks Art Museum, 801 S. Patterson Ave., Oxford; Uptown Parks, 2 East High St., Oxford.
Learn more: Eclipse Watch Parties. Learn more at the Travel Butler County website.
Village Green Park, Fairfield
Date: April 8
Time: 1:30-3 p.m.
Address: 301 Wessel Drive, Fairfield
Learn more: Total Eclipse in the Park. Themed activities for kids, giveaways and viewing party. Handicap accessible venue. Learn more at the City of Fairfield website.
Ikea, West Chester
Date: April 8
Time: 2-3:30 p.m.
Address: 9500 Ikea Way, West Chester Township.
Learn more: Solarbration. Solar eclipse viewing party in IKEA Family parking lot. Games, activities and more. Learn more on IKEA's website.
Jungle Jim’s Oscar Event Center, Fairfield
Date: April 8
Time: 2-4 p.m.
Address: 8871 N. Gilmore Road, Fairfield
Learn more: Jungle Jim's Solar Eclipse Viewing Party. Family-friendly games, music, themed snacks for purchase. Ticket includes eclipse glasses. Bring a chair. Cash bar for ages 21-up with valid ID. $5, registration required. Learn more on Eventbrite.
Mass Wedding Ceremony at Trenton Community Park, Trenton
Date: April 8
Time: 2-4 p.m.
Address: 440 Dell Drive, Trenton
Learn more: Total Eclipse of the Heart (of it All). Bring your eclipse glasses and sunscreen for this once-in-a-lifetime event. Bring your wedding license and paperwork and get married during the eclipse. Mayor Perry will perform a mass wedding ceremony starting at 3 p.m. Learn more on Trenton's website.
Forest Run MetroPark, Hamilton
Date: April 8
Time: 2-4 p.m.
Address: 1976 Timberman Road, Hamilton
Learn more: There Goes The Sun Watch Party. Educational and immersive event with nature specialists, family-friendly activities, and a choose-your-own eclipse adventure. Handicap accessible. $5, Registration required. Learn more at the Butler County MetroParks website.
Monroe Community Park, Monroe
Date: April 8
Time: noon-8 p.m.
Address: 412 Old St., Monroe
Learn more: Party in the Dark: A Solarbration. Live music, games, activities for kids, food trucks. Eclipse glasses while supplies last. Handicap accessible. Free. Learn more at the City of Monroe website.
Perfect North Slopes, Indiana
Date: April 8
Time: 1-4 p.m.
Address: 19074 Perfect Lane, Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
Learn more: Watch the solar eclipse from the Perfect North Slopes parking lot. The lodge, bathrooms and chairlifts will be open. Chairlift rides and solar viewing glasses cost $5 each. Parking is free. RSVP for $5 here, which includes solar viewing glasses (while supplies last) and unlimited chairlift rides.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Watch the 2024 solar eclipse at these Greater Cincinnati events