Eclipse Weekend In Little Rock Sure To Draw Cosmic Explorers
As the capital of Arkansas, Little Rock is an ideal destination to witness the eclipse. Located within the path of totality, people viewing the eclipse from within our city will be able to experience the sky darkening, as if it were dawn or dusk.
We recommend visiting the exhibit, “Astronomical Arkansas: Astronomy and Space Science in the Natural State,” at the Arkansas State Capitol. The exhibit will highlight contribution that organizations, institutions, and people in Arkansas made in astronomy and space science and will include artifacts such as space shuttle components and Moon rock samples. The Capitol is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.
If you arrive early for eclipse weekend, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is hosting “Storytelling: Native Americans and the Eclipse,” from 6-7:30 p.m., Friday, April 5. Explore the 2024 total solar eclipse through Indigenous knowledge and storytelling with Erin Fehr, assistant director and archivist from the Sequoyah National Research Center. Admission to this vibrant talk is free.
Also, enjoy a weekend of musical performances at the First Security Amphitheater in Riverfront Park, along the banks of the Arkansas River. The free concert series will include performances on all three days of eclipse weekend. Jazz and funk group Rodney Block Collective & All-Star Friends will perform from 6-8 p.m., Saturday, April 6. Gates will open at 5 p.m.
Country musician Ward Davis will perform from 8-9:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 7. Gates will open at 6 p.m. The Cons of Formant will perform as the opening act from 7-7:45 p.m.
On April 8, The Machine Performs Pink Floyd will take the stage from approximately 12:40-1:40 p.m., pausing for a 20-minute intermission ahead of full totality between 1:51-1:54 p.m. The band will then resume their performance from 2-3 p.m., with partial totality concluding at 3:11 p.m. Gates will open for the show at 11 a.m.
If you want a performance that’s perhaps more intimate, consider “Holst’s The Planets: The Solar Eclipse Concert,” held at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 6 and 3 p.m., Sunday, April 7, at Robinson Center. Click here to buy tickets.
Also be sure to check out the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden, which is positioned along the banks of the Arkansas River. (Connected to Riverfront Park, this could also be a good spot to observe the eclipse on Monday, April 8.)
If you’re traveling with children, an obvious stop will be the Museum of Discovery. This museum is perfect for kids because of its fun and educational exhibits, which can be enjoyed by adults as well.
If you have a nerdy side, consider going to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) for an insightful and education solar eclipse event on Monday, April 8. The event, hosted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center, will include telescopes for an up-close view of the eclipse, an inflatable planetarium, a Foucault’s pendulum, and a variety of demonstrations.
The South Main (SoMa) neighborhood is also planning an elaborate eclipse-day celebration with SoMa in the Dark: Path of Totality Eclipse Watch Party. The event includes a viewing area from 12th to 17th streets complete with seats, telescopes, refreshments, viewing glasses and other amenities down the center of Main Street.
Another option is Eclipse Day at the Little Rock Zoo. Tickets can be purchased online (and must be purchased in advance) and include zoo admission and glasses that will allow you to view the eclipse safely. The zoo is offering a “Pull Up Tailgate Party” in the gated private lot on their grounds as well.
Click here to view up-to-date information on the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse in Little Rock.
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