Civic groups, small businesses hosting events for solar eclipse weekend

Civic groups, small businesses hosting events for solar eclipse weekend Nathan Diebenow Wed, 04/03/2024 - 05:26 Image

• Courtesy Map by National Weather Service - Fort Worth As of Monday, April 1, 2024, the forecast for Eclipse Day continued to be cloudy; however, not all hope is lost! There is still a medium chance of partial visibility across Bosque County. Given it's still a week away, avoid focusing on specific areas at this time. As Eclipse Day approaches, the National Weather Service will gain more confidence on areas with better partial visibility.

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This week Bosque County will be rolling out the welcome wagon for possible visitors attracted to the total solar eclipse.

Civic organizations, faith groups, and small businesses across the county have scheduled events showcasing their unique brands of Texas hospitality.

The locals in each of the small towns will be treating the once-in-a-lifetime celestial event like a modified community festival.

The expectation in Clifton is that the foot traffic could double in size of its annual FallFest held in October; similarly in Meridian, locals expect crowds larger than the attendance during the National Championship Barbecue Cookoff in October.

While the weather forecast might call for cloudy conditions, the eclipse will still black out the sun over all of Bosque County for around four minutes on Monday, April 8.

Here is a schedule of events the weekend prior to and the day of the eclipse in Clifton, Meridian, and Valley Mills:

Clifton

The City of Clifton on Monday, April 8, will host visitors at Clifton City Park with parking available across FM 219 by the Clifton Rodeo Arena.

With the $15 parking fee, guests will receive free safety glasses with which to view the eclipse.

Several public restrooms and portable toilets will be available for use in the park.

The city park is located on the east side of town on FM 219 (West 5th Street) across the railroad tracks.

The 100 block of North Avenue D in historic downtown Clifton will be open to pedestrian foot traffic but closed to vehicular traffic on Friday afternoon, starting at 5 p.m., through Tuesday, April 9.

Visitors are welcome to bring their own folding chairs to both the city park and the historic downtown areas.

The City of Clifton will provide no additional seating in the downtown area.

Corner Drug Café will be open during normal hours on Wednesday, April 3, and Thursday, April 4.

On Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6, the café will be open for special hours, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The café will have refreshments and modified menu options – such as salads and sandwiches– outside the restaurant in tents on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

On Sunday, April 7, the café will host brunch from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., and Monday, April 8, it will have meals-to-go as well as pastries, mimosas, and beer until 3 p.m.

The café is located at 103 North Avenue D.

219 Artisan Market will be open Friday, April 5, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday, April 7, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., but will be closed on Monday, April 8.

On Saturday, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., the market will host its inaugural garden sale with vegetable and fruit plants and gardenthemed artisan work.

The market is located at 329 West 5th Street.

Mazie Grace will be open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; on Sunday, from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. and Monday, from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Live music will be provided there by Glory Gilbert, a young musician based in Meridian.

The store is located at 122 North Avenue D.

Market at the Mill will host an event on Sunday, April 7, from 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.

The Eclipse Sunday Funday will feature vendor shopping, food trucks, and live music all afternoon and into the evening.

The musicians to perform on Sunday there include Callie Smith (12 p.m. - 2 p.m.), Jared Pool (2 p.m. - 4 p.m.), and Donna Beckham (4 p.m. 7 p.m.).

On Sunday and Monday, three food trucks will be open at the Market, including Tignen BBQ, Sugardoodles Sips & Sweets, and The Fancy Bean.

During both days, outdoor seating for guests will be open at the market.

The market is located at 317 West Third Street.

The On5th Gallery will host live music and food trucks on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

On Saturday and Sunday, Keegan McInroe will perform; on Monday, Kendi Jean is set to play.

A three-day pass is $120; a single-day pass, $30.

To get tickets visit the gallery’s website: www. on5thgallery.com.

The gallery is located at 318 West 5th Street.

Olaf’s Restaurant will host a pre-eclipse party with live music by Marcus Miller from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Friday, April 5.

Bunkhouse BBQ will host an event at its restaurant location from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Guests can park in the lot for free with the purchase of any plate.

The first 50 people will get free eclipse glasses.

The restaurant is located at 1003 South Avenue G (Highway 6).

The Bosque Arts Center will host its regularly scheduled 42nd annual fundraiser -- the Big Event.

This year’s theme is “Saturday Night Fever.”

On Friday, April 5, will be a casino night, followed by the sponsor party and concert featuring the fabulous Bee Gees tribute band Bee Gees Now on Saturday, April 6.

The band will take the stage in Frazier Performance Hall at the BAC at 8 p.m.

Concert-only tickets are at two levels: $75 and $35.

The center is located at 215 South College Hill Drive.

Bosque Museum will host activities for all ages on Monday, April 8, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The museum is located at 301 South Avenue Q in Clifton.

The SILO Project will host an eclipse viewing party from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on its property at 3608 Highway 6 outside of Clifton.

The party will feature an invited guest to answer questions regarding astrophysics.

The price of admission is $75 per person which includes reserved parking, complimentary handmade, wood-fired pizza (from a cob oven) and beer. A bathroom will be available to guests.

To sign up, visit thesiloproject.net.

Meridian

The Meridian Parks & Recreation will be hosting its inaugural Texas Twilight Jubilee this weekend starting Saturday morning at Chisholm Trail Plaza.

Admission is free to attend this community event, consisting of live music, food trucks, vendors, and artisans.

Musical artists will include Feed the Fire (10 a.m.), Back Row King (12 p.m.), Not So Jazz Band Jazz Band (2 p.m.), B&N Band (4 p.m.), and The Back Forty Band (6 p.m.).

At 8 p.m., the Movie on the Plaza will be “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”

The food trucks scheduled include Deedees Curbside Cravings and Kona Ice of Central DFW/ Dinosaur Valley.

On Sunday, April 7, the jubilee will continue with a sunrise service at 7:30 a.m. lead by Pastor Brian Barrett of One Church.

Musical artists to follow include Feed the Fire (10 a.m.), Colby Townley (12 p.m.), Glory Gilbert and Brady Taylor (2 p.m.), Blake Dagley (4 p.m.), Griffith Switch (6 p.m.), and Chad Miller and the Good Fortune Band (8 p.m.).

The food truck scheduled to appear will include La Bandida Street Food.

The plaza is located at 305 West Morgan Street.

The Meridian Chamber of Commerce will host a live music event at the Bosque Bottoms on Sunday, April 7, from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

The event will feature three acts: the B&B Band, Glory Gilbert and Brady Taylor, and Faith Over Fear.

Hamburgers and hot dogs will be for sale for $15 per person, starting at 5 p.m. Parking is $10 per vehicle per day.

The Chamber will also be selling eclipse safety glasses as well as souvenir hats.

Spots for recreational vehicles and dry camping will be available for rent at Bosque Bottoms.

Red Caboose Winery will host its eclipse party from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. Live music will be performed by Markus Miller except during the totality starting at 1:30 p.m.

A few RV spots are available at the winery. To reserve space, visit redcaboosewinery.shop or email ryanredcaboose@gmail.com. Spaces with hook ups are $100 per night and dry camping spaces are $50 per night with a two-night minimum.

Valley Mills

Out of all the locations in Bosque County, Valley Mills will experience the longest time of the totality.

As such, the City of Valley Mills is expecting the most traffic on the day of the eclipse.

Parking on public streets in town will be available on a first-come, firstserved basis.

Parking on private property in town is at the discretion of the property owner.

The City of Valley Mills is directing visitors to a public viewing site at Robert Wilson Park (aka Splash Pad Park) located between Avenue D and Avenue E hugging Second Street and Third Street.

Featuring two baseball fields and a basketball court, this park is within walking distance of restaurants and shopping a block from historic downtown Valley Mills on Avenue C (Highway 6).

Limited campsites for recreational vehicles and tents will be available at Boy Scout Park on the Bosque River.

For more information about accommodation at Boy Scout Park, contact the City of Valley Mills.