Well, you could just look up — but don’t do that unless you have approved eclipse glasses.
Got glasses leftover from the 2017 solar eclipse? Don’t use them. The Virginia State Parks system advises: “The film in the glasses has a three-year lifespan; they are now a safety hazard that could damage your eyes.”
The eclipse will generally start about 2 p.m. and end about 4:30 p.m., although precise times will vary from place to place. During the peak time, between 3 and 3:20 p.m., about 80% of the sun will be blocked in eastern Southside, and about 90% in Southwest Virginia.
For most precise information for your specific location, see the Time and Date website.
For more information, see weather journalist Kevin Myatt’s column that deals with the eclipse.
Here are a list of the eclipse-viewing events that we know of in the region. If your school or group is planning one, email us at news@cardinalnews.org. We’ll update this list as we get more information.
Got pics from your eclipse event? Share those to news@cardinalnews.org by 6 p.m. Monday. Please include where the photo was taken, who or what is in the photo, and who took the photo.
Appomattox County
Where: Holliday Lake State Park
When: Eclipse begins at Holliday Lake State Park at 1:59 p.m., peaks at 3:17p.m. with 84.2% totality, ends at 4:30 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Activities: “For our guests with visual impairment, we’ll provide a light sound machine, enabling a multi-sensory experience of the eclipse.”
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Big Stone Gap
Where: Southwest Virginia Museum
When: Eclipse begins at Southwest Virginia Museum at 1:51 p.m., peaks at 3:10 p.m. with 89.6% totality, ends at 4:25 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Activities: “A brief presentation about the science and cultural significance of a solar eclipse will be presented as well as learning the impacts that an eclipse can have on societies, as well as on our natural resources. After the presentation participants will be shown how to construct their own viewing boxes to safely watch this amazing spectacle.” Registration is required.
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Blacksburg
Where: Virginia Tech Drillfield
When: 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Eclipse glasses? Yes, available.
Telescopes? Yes, 10 solar-viewing telescopes will be available.
Activities: The College of Science will raffle off 250 T-shirts designed for the event and attendees can enjoy “celestial treats.”
Christiansburg
Where: Montgomery Museum of Art & History
When: 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Eclipse glasses? Purchase solar eclipse glasses at the Montgomery Museum gift shop located at 4 East Main St. in downtown Christiansburg. Glasses can also be purchased day-of at the museum gardens. $3 for one pair of glasses, $5 for two pairs of glasses.
Activities: Bring your own snacks.
Cumberland County
Where: Bear Creek Lake State Park
When: Eclipse begins at Bear Creek Lake State Park at 1:59 p.m., peaks at 3:17 p.m. with 84.3% totality, ends at 4:30 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Activities: Free pinhole camera workshop at the Lakeside Snack Bar beginning at 1:20 p.m. Pinhole cameras are a sheet of cardboard with a hole that allows people to watch the eclipse event indirectly.
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Dublin
Where: Claytor Lake State Park
When: Eclipse begins at Claytor Lake at 1:55 p.m., peaks at 3:12 p.m. with 86.5% totality, ends at 4:27 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Activities: Make a pinhole viewer at 1 p.m. “Everyone will be able to make a pinhole viewer, but those wanting a box viewer will need to bring your own large cardboard box or mailing tube.”
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Halifax County
Where: Staunton River State Park
When: Eclipse begins at Staunton River State Park at 1:58 p.m., peaks at 3:16 p.m. with 81.7% totality, ends at 4:30 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Telescopes: Yes, available.
Activities: “We will also be making time capsules to remember the day. There is plenty of open space on the Observation Field to set up your chairs or blankets and get a glimpse of the eclipse.”
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Lee County
Where: Wilderness Road State Park, Ewing
When: Eclipse begins at Clinch River State Park at 1:49 p.m., peaks at 3:09 p.m. with 90.1% totality, ends at 4:25 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Activities: Rangers will be on hand to answer questions.
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Lynchburg
Where: Central Virginia Community College
When: Event starts at 11:15 a.m. although eclipse isn’t until about 2 p.m.
Eclipse glasses? Free to the first 5,000 people.
Telescopes? Yes, specialized solar telescopes provided by the Blue Ridge Astronomy Club.
Activities: Eclipse-themed escape room challenge. T-shirt dyeing: Bring along a black T-shirt and create eclipse-inspired designs through bleach dyeing. Photo booths.
Lectures: Yes.
“Eclipsing Einstein” by Matthew Poteat at 12:10 p.m.
“That’s Yesterday’s Eclipse” by Michael Babcock at 12:35 p.m.
“Look Who’s Talking” by Vic Sizemore at 1:00 p.m.
“Scientifically Speaking…” by Daniel Schmidt and Timothy Marshall at 1:25 p.m.
Expert Panel Q&A: Engage with a panel of experts in a Q&A session at 2:15 p.m.
For more information: https://centralvirginia.edu/event/out-world-partial-solar-eclipse.
Marion
Where: Hungry Mother State Park
When: Eclipse begins at Hungry Mother State Park at 1:53 p.m., peaks at 3:12 p.m. with 87.6% totality, ends at 4:27 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Activities:
2 p.m. – Eclipse Shirt Craft: Create “eclipse shirts” to commemorate the event with glow-in-the-dark paint on dark shirts. Limited participation; first-come, first-served according to available materials.
2:50 p.m. – Eclipse Talk: Learn about the “how” and “why” of solar eclipses in this very brief talk that digs into the phenomenon with creative visual aids.
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Max Meadows
Where: New River Trail State Park
When: Eclipse begins at 1:54 p.m., peaks at 3:13 pm. at 86.2% totality, and ends at 4:28 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Natural Bridge
Where: Natural Bridge State Park
When: Eclipse begins at Natural Bridge State Park at 1:57 p.m., peaks at 3:16 p.m. with 86.7% totality, ends at 4:28 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Activities: “A viewing party will take place at the Children’s Discovery Area, with rangers providing details about the eclipse and doing crafts.”
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Prince Edward County
Where: High Bridge Trail State Park
When: Eclipse begins at High Bridge at 1:59 p.m., peaks at 3:17 p.m. with 83.3% totality, ends at 4:30 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Activities: A ranger will be on hand to answer questions or provide needed assistance.
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Radford
Where: Radford University, specifically the Center for the Sciences and Parking Lot C
When: Event runs 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The eclipse will begin over Radford at 1:58 p.m., with the maximum eclipse covering 87% of the sun occurring at 3:15 p.m.
Eclipse glasses? Mre than 1,000 solar viewing glasses will be available for distribution to event attendees.
Telescopes? Solar-viewing telescopes will be in Parking Lot C.
Activities: Eclipse-themed planetarium shows every 30 minutes starting at 1:30; the Museum of the Earth Sciences will be open throughout the afternoon.
For more information: Visit here.
Roanoke County
Where: Explore Park.
When: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30.
Eclipse glasses: Yes, while supplies last.
Activities: For ages 7-18, including the zipline. Registration is required.
For more information: See the Explore website.
Saint Paul
Where: Clinch River State Park
When: Eclipse begins at Clinch River State Park at 1:52 p.m., peaks at 3:11 p.m. with 88.9% totality, ends at 4:26 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Activities: “Park staff will be shuttling guests to the top of Sugar Hill by van, which will provide a scenic and unobstructed view of the landscape and eclipse. Shuttles will run beginning at 1:30 pm from the UVA Wise Oxbow Center at 16620 E. Riverside Drive in Saint Paul to the top of the Sugar Hill Unit of Clinch River State Park. A limited number of Solar Eclipse Shades will be available for purchase for $1 each. Pre-registering is required by Friday, April 5th. Please call the park office at 276-762-5076, or email clinchriver@dcr.virginia.gov to register. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket as there will be no places to sit once on the Sugar Hill Unit.”
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Scott County
Where: Natural Tunnel State Park
When: Eclipse begins at Natural Tunnel State Park at 1:51 p.m., peaks at 3:10p.m. with 88.9% totality, ends at 4:25 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Telescopes: Yes, available.
Activities: “Our astronomy volunteers will be on hand to help answer questions about the sun as well as the other stellar bodies in our sky. We will have activities and crafts for all ages.”
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Smith Mountain Lake
Where: Smith Mountain Lake State Park
When: Eclipse begins at Smith Mountain Lake State Park at 1:57 p.m., peaks at 3:15 p.m. with 84.7% totality, ends at 4:29 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Activities: “Please join our park interpreter at the Discovery Center Pavilion between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. for answers to eclipse-related questions and fun astronomy activities. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on for a more comfortable viewing time as the entire event of the eclipse lasts over two hours.”
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Stuart
Where: Fairystone State Park
When: Eclipse begins at Claytor Lake at 1:56 p.m., peaks at 3:14 p.m. with 84.7% totality, ends at 4:28 p.m.
Eclipse glasses: For sale at visitor center or gift park.
Activities: “Come out to the beach parking lot and join rangers for an afternoon of music and fun as we discuss and observe the rare and truly marvelous phenomenon.”
For more information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse
Virginia State Parks
For state parks not listed above, see https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse.