The internet has been abuzz lately in anticipation of the total solar eclipse. The natural phenomenon passing over Central Texas and North Texas on Monday, April 8 around midday, when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth and the sky will darken. Now, many Dallas-Fort Worth area cities and venues are hosting watch parties (find many more on our calendar) and while some of these parties require tickets, not all do. Take a look at our short list below for where you can gather for free admission and free solar eclipse glasses too, and where you can enjoy more kid-friendly fun too.
But first, wherever it is that you are when you look up, be sure to watch safely and that means never looking directly at the sun, not even for a moment, and also not using other items such as binoculars, cameras or telescopes without a solar filter. “The sun will burn through them and damage your eyes,” warns the National Eye Institute. “The only safe way to watch a solar eclipse without a filter is by turning your back to the sun and watching a projection.”
Total Solar Eclipse, Arlington
Address: Levitt Pavilion, 100 W. Abram St., Arlington
Party: Monday, April 8, 11am–3pm
This gathering offers free admission and free solar eclipse glasses for the first 3,000 guests, offered as part of Arlington Parks & Rec’s Centennial Celebration. Come early to grab a pair of solar glasses for each person in your family, and set up your blankets or lawn chairs on the lawn at Levitt Pavilion in downtown Arlington. A live DJ will be spinning tunes and food trucks will be open. Here the partial eclipse begins at 12:23pm, reaching maximum totality at 1:42pm. Learn more
Solar Sand Eclipse, Little Elm
Address: 701 W. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm
Party: Monday, April 8, 11:30am–2:17pm
Head to the sandy beach at Little Elm Park where they say they’ll begin distributing eclipse glasses at 11:30am (though you’ll definitely want to get in line earlier than that), as well as T-shirts and moon pies, quite possibly the best snack pairing for this occasion. The Easy Slider food truck will be open and serving burgers until 2pm. In Little Elm, the eclipse is expected to occur between 1:08pm and 2:17pm, totality lasting 1 minute and 56 seconds. Learn more
Total Eclipse of the Park, Grapevine
Address: Parr Park, 3010 Parr Lane, Grapevine
Party: 11am–2:30pm
The first 400 people will get free glasses and every gets free admission to the park. If you’re closer to Grapevine, you’ll want to come here for the kids’ activities and an educational session by Mad Science DFW. They’ll have a DJ spinning tunes and a food truck open. Totality is expected at about 1:41pm. Learn more
Totality Dallas
Address: Samuell Farm, 100 US-80, Mesquite
Party: April 6–8
If you want to spend more than a few moments outdoors leading up to the big event on Monday, check out this weekend-long festival Dallas Parks & Recreation is hosting at its Samuell Farm. They’ll have overnight camping sites available for reservation, lots of outdoor recreation activities like fishing and kayaking, an outdoor movie on Saturday, and on Sunday night, a drone show. On Monday, $5 gets you all-day admission to the farm and a pair of eclipse glasses. Learn more
Total Eclipse of Park, Addison
Address: Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle Drive
Party: 10am–4pm
Get free admission to the park—blankets, lawn chairs and coolers are welcome—and come early to get some of the limited solar viewing glasses the Town is gifting to party-goers. (If you happened to be booking a hotel stay at an Addison hotel, they’ll throw in a pair of glasses too.) While you’re waiting for the big moment, you can join yoga in the park and let the kids dance on the lawn to the live music by DFW party band Extended Play. Learn more
Find many more solar eclipse parties on dfwchild.com/calendar.
Top image of total eclipse of the sun on August 21, 2017: iStock
