For the first time since 1806, a total solar eclipse will be visible in Ohio on Monday, April 8. Akron is within the path of totality, meaning the city is one of the best places to see it. This phenomenon won’t happen in the state again until 2099. 

The eclipse will start at 3:14 p.m. and last for a total of two minutes and 49 seconds. Although the total eclipse will only last a few minutes, a partial eclipse will begin as early as 1:59 p.m. and last until 4:29 p.m.

Area officials are expecting an unprecedented number of visitors, so be sure to plan your day in advance and leave plenty of time for travel. Also prepare to view the eclipse safely – we have some helpful information here. 

A great place to start looking for events scheduled for April 8 is the Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau, which has a long list of venues offering viewing opportunities. Be sure to scroll down the page, past the helpful safety and viewing tips.

Here’s Signal Akron’s list of information collected from around the area, plus links to stories already published to help you plan your day.

City of Akron opens up parks and recreation centers

The City of Akron announced a list of neighborhood sites that will be open for the eclipse. Some venues require pre-registration.

The city is also hosting a free party downtown in the parking lot behind Spaghetti Warehouse at 510 S. Main St. Registration is required – parking is available at city-owned lots and decks or on the street. Be sure to give yourself extra time to navigate the heavy traffic that is expected.

View a map of the sites here.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Officials with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park urged area residents to stay close to home April 8 to get “the best seat in the house” to view the eclipse. The park is expecting “unusually high numbers of visitors” and shared its suggestions to maximize the experience, along with parking lot information for the day. Read more here.

Kenmore

The Kenmore Branch Library and Better Kenmore Community Development Corporation are hosting an eclipse viewing party as the “lights” go out on the Boulevard. Eclipse glasses are available (one pair per customer) at the library on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Enjoy live music from Clyde Hensley starting at 11 a.m., space-themed crafts from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., light refreshments and livestreams of the eclipse from other areas of the country.

Local buskers will also be playing on the Boulevard, which features restaurants and local businesses. The Rialto Theatre and Better Kenmore will livestream the eclipse from NASA, and The Center will host sun salutation yoga from 4 to 5 p.m.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens’ eclipse on the Great Meadow

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens will be open for visitors to watch the solar eclipse from the Great Meadow. 

You’ll have to purchase a parking pass for $50 ahead of time, and your vehicle must fit in a regular-sized parking spot, so don’t borrow your in-laws’ Sprinter van. You can bring things to make the experience more comfortable, such as a blanket or camp chair. All guests will receive complimentary eclipse glasses. 

Stan Hywet’s education department is partnering with the Akron Children’s Museum and Challenge Island to provide activities as well.

The manor house and grounds will be open for self-guided tours – the address is 714 N. Portage Path. To register or for more information, go to stanhywet.org, or call 330-315-3287.

Summit County, Akron Municipal Court changes on eclipse day

Many of the official Monday functions in Summit County offices, along with the Akron Municipal Court, will be limited on April 8. Read more here. 

One of A Kind Pet Rescue

One of A Kind Pet Rescue is hosting a party with music, snacks and ISO-rated glasses. A monetary donation of any size is the cost of admission. The party will be held in the facility’s play yard behind the rescue and spill into the back lawn at 1929 W. Market St., Akron.

Drumroll for the Total Eclipse

Join Akron Soul Train at Chestnut Ridge Park at 1926 19th St. SW in Akron for “a drumroll in collaboration with the cosmos,” orchestrated by artist-in-residence Matt Kurtz.

Kurtz will lead a percussive section featuring a drumroll just before the “totality” sweeps over Northeast Ohio, giving rise to the natural phenomenon known as “the blackout.”

Solar eclipse glasses will be provided to all registrants. Seating will open at 2 p.m. and the performance will start at 3 p.m.

Akron Soul Train encourages attendees to walk, ride a bike, or carpool to limit parking or roadway issues pre- and post-eclipse.

Akron Art Museum, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enjoy solar-themed art, live music, art activities and eclipse-themed refreshments. The event is free, but registration is required.

Akron-Summit County Public Library (Main Library), noon to 4 p.m.

View the eclipse from the library’s outdoor amphitheater or watch NASA’s livestream in the auditorium. Additional library branches will also host eclipse viewings.

Mustill Store Museum, 1 to 4 p.m.

Join Cascade Locks Park Association for its eclipse party. Free eclipse glasses will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Akron RubberDucks

Party in the Park till it’s Dark with the Akron RubberDucks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fans can take batting practice on the field at Canal Park (cost is $20) and watch the total eclipse from the outfield grass. Tickets to just watch the eclipse are $5.

Batting practice on the field will go from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Participants will get 90 seconds to take as many swings as they can. Any fan who hits a home run over the outfield wall will win a free RubberDucks season ticket for the 2024 season.

Starting at 1:30 p.m. fans will be invited down to the outfield to watch the total eclipse. Fans are encouraged to bring blankets. The first 1,500 fans who enter the gates on April 8 will receive eclipse glasses courtesy of Majic 105.7.

More information:

Lots of local bars and restaurants are hosting eclipse parties, including Absolute Tattoo Company and Magic City Brewing Company.  El Patron is hosting a rooftop patio viewing party from 1 to 5 p.m. A number of area Swensons locations, including the original West Akron location, are hosting “Total Eclipse of the Lot,” where patrons can reserve a parking spot for $25 to watch the eclipse.

Search on Facebook Events or Eventbrite to find more.

Community & service reporter (they/them)
Reegan Davis Saunders is Signal Akron’s community & service reporter. Reegan studied journalism and art at Kent State University, and they are passionate about the intersection of the two disciplines.

Although Reegan grew up in metro Detroit, they have always been an Ohio State Buckeyes fan. After living in Kent the past few years, they are excited to explore more of Akron, especially the coffee shops.

At Signal Akron, Reegan hopes to serve underrepresented communities by creating more accessible content.

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.