New York State Parks and Historic Sites will host a range of events and activities to celebrate the rare total solar eclipse passing through the Finger Lakes, Western New York, and the Adirondacks on April 8. This cosmic event happens once every 400 years in the same location. Events will be held both where the eclipse will be fully visible across a narrow route, referred to as the path of totality, and where visitors can experience a rare partial eclipse throughout the rest of the state.
“While we prepare to welcome the public to our beautiful state parks for the total solar eclipse in New York State, we’re also offering dozens of events and activities leading up to this extraordinary event,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Our top priority is ensuring that New Yorkers and visitors can safely witness this generational spectacle, and I encourage everyone to keep safety in mind so that all can savor this experience in our state.
Beginning Thursday, events at many state parks and historic sites will facilitate hands-on craft projects like Do-It-Yourself pinhole eclipse viewer construction as well as offer educational programs steeped in history and solar system science. On April 8, numerous eclipse-viewing gatherings are scheduled, often featuring eclipse-themed activities, discussions and trivia, food or snacks, and distribution of solar viewing glasses to prevent severe eye injuries. People who would like to register for the dozens of events and activities hosted at New York state parks and historic sites – both day-of and leading up to the eclipse – may do so through the OPRHP event calendar and eclipse website.
The Governor previously announced that beginning on April 4th, scientists, subject matter experts and astronauts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will be providing programming and exhibits at Niagara Falls State Park as well as throughout the city at locations including the Niagara Falls Public Libraries, The Underground Railroad Heritage Center, The Aquarium of Niagara, the New York Power Authority Power Vista, the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute. All events will be free and open to the public (reservations may be required based on space availability) throughout the entire weekend leading up to the April 8 event. NASA will be hosting similar events in several other cities throughout the path of totality. A full list of events can be found at the 2024 Solar Eclipse | Niagara Falls USA website.
Eclipse in New York State
During the afternoon of April 8, a total eclipse will encompass the western and northern parts of New York State. In less than 15 minutes within a 3:15 to 3:30 window, the moon will pass between the earth and sun, turning day into night for 1 ½ minutes to 3 ½ minutes. The roughly 100-mile wide path of totality will enter in the southwestern part of the state at just after 3:15 PM, and will depart northern New York just before 3:30. Cities and towns within this path include Jamestown, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Watertown, Old Forge, Lake Placid and Plattsburgh. The entire event will last for up to 2 ½ hours, marking the time the sun is first obstructed to the last moments when the moon’s shadow is cast.
For other areas of the state that are outside the path, there will still be quite a celestial spectacle. The minimum coverage in the state will be on Long Island, with the sun being shadowed at 88 percent there. New York City will see 89 percent coverage with 96 percent in the Capital Region. The next total solar eclipse that will be visible from the contiguous U.S. will not be until August 2044.
Public Safety During the Eclipse
Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright face, it is unsafe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. According to NASA, viewing any part of the sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury. The partial phases of the solar eclipse can only be safely observed directly with specialized solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a handheld solar viewer. Regular sunglasses, polarized or otherwise, are not a safe replacement for solar eclipse glasses.
Events at State Parks and Historic Sites Within the Path of Totality
FINGER LAKES AND CENTRAL NEW YORK
Cayuga Lake State Park
Solar Eclipse
Monday, April 8, 2024, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Fair Haven Beach State Park
Total Solar Eclipse (multiple programs)
Monday, April 8, 2024, 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Ganondagan State Historic Site
Ëgä:hgwáhdö’t – There Will Be an Eclipse (multiple programs)
Monday, April 8, 2024, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Selkirk Shores State Park
Eclipse – Earth Base II
Monday, April 8, 2024, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
WESTERN NEW YORK
Allegany State Park
Eclipse Viewing Event (multiple programs)
Monday, April 8, 2024, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Buffalo Harbor State Park
Totality On the Centerline
Monday, April 8, 2024, 12:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Knox Farm State Park
Tiny Tots – Space Explorers
Thursday, April 4, 2024, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Lake Erie State Park
Eclipse Viewing and Crafts
Monday, April 8, 2024, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Long Point State Park on Lake Chautauqua
Eclipse Viewing and Crafts
Monday, April 8, 2024, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Midway State Park
Eclipse Viewing Event
Monday, April 8, 2024, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Niagara Falls State Park
DIY Pinhole Solar Eclipse Projectors
Thursday, March 7, 2024, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 23, 2024, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
TSE Trivia
Friday, March 8, 2024, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
When the Eclipse Was Here Last
Friday, March 22, 2024, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Stroll at the Falls
Friday, April 5, 2024, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Saturday, April 6, 2024, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM and 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 7, 2024, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM and 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Totality at the Falls
Monday, April 8, 2024, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Woodlawn Beach State Park
Fun in the Sun Crafts
Sunday, April 7, 2024, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
NORTH COUNTRY / ADIRONDACKS
Crown Point State Historic Site
Eclipse Viewing
Monday, April 8, 2024, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Cumberland Bay State Park
Solar Eclipse Monday
Monday, April 8, 2024, 2:00 PM – 4:30PM
Wellesley Island State Park
Totality on the River
Monday, April 8, 2024, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
GREATER CAPITAL REGION/EASTERN ADIRONDACKS
John Brown Farm
John Brown Farm Eclipse Viewing
Monday, April 8, 2024, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Events at State Parks and Historic Sites Outside the Path of Totality (Partial Eclipse)
GREATER CAPITAL REGION/EASTERN ADIRONDACKS
John Boyd Thacher State Park
Solar Eclipse: Activity Hour
Saturday, March 23, 2024, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
HUDSON VALLEY / CATSKILLS
Bear Mountain State Park
Eclipse Viewing at Bear Mountain
Monday, April 8, 2024, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park
Prepare for the Eclipse! Make-Your-Own Eclipse Viewer at Sam’s Point
Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve: Sam’s Point Area
Rockefeller State Park Preserve
The Final Countdown: Solar Eclipse FAQ & Crafts!
Sunday, March 17, 2024, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
