BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The total solar eclipse is quickly approaching, and Indiana is living up to its name as the Crossroads of America.
That’s because it will be a top destination, with 1 million visitors expected to travel to the area.
One of the most popular spots will be Bloomington and Indiana University. The city will be under totality for more than four minutes, which is one of the longest durations in the state.
“Bloomington will shine through the darkness, as we show the world the welcoming and vibrant community we are,” Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson said.
Monroe County leaders say they started preparing for this event three years ago. They are partnering with local and state agencies to make sure visitors are safe.
“We know that the rareness and beauty of this event can increase populations by three or four times, and in fact, the eclipse could bring us several hundreds of thousands of people to Bloomington, and we’ve heard estimates up to 1 million in the Indianapolis region,” said Benjamin Hunter, associate vice president and superintendent of public safety for IU.
Indiana State Police says the biggest challenge will be traffic.
How to plan
- Plan a location to view the eclipse.
- Allow for extra travel time to and from eclipse events.
- Fully fill gas tanks or charge up electric vehicles in advance of travel, and plan for routes with stations to fuel or charge up along the way.
- Pack snacks, water, prescribed medications and an emergency kit in all vehicles.
- Secure necessary child and pet care to plan for the day.
University officers and Bloomington police will be fully staffed over the weekend, and emergency operations centers will be opened throughout the county and IU to mitigate and manage any issues.
Also, safety agencies are expecting an increased number of calls to 911 and strains on cellular networks and WiFi infrastructure.
Viewing the eclipse from the top levels of parking garages will not be allowed.
Road closure information will be made public in a few weeks.
Eclipse events
In Bloomington, the largest event will be the Hoosier Comic Celebration from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on April 8. It will take place inside Memorial Stadium and feature a performance by singer, songwriter and actress Janelle Monáe, a spoken-word performance by actor William Shatner, of “Star Trek” fame, and a speech by former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison, the first American woman of color to travel in space.
You can buy tickets here.
“It gives people an opportunity to hang out for a little bit longer, enjoy some phenomenal entertainment and ease their trip home,” said Doug Booher, assistant vice president of events and conferences at IU.
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IU Bloomington will also host Science Fest 2024 on April 6. The free event will offer safety tips and teach attendees about the impact that solar eclipses have on all life and the science of an eclipse.
In Indianapolis, IU is partnering with Visit Indy for the "Lunacy! Solar Eclipse Festival" at White River State Park downtown.
You can find other university-sponsored events here.