On Main Street
Main Streets are a unique and essential part of our nation’s character and indeed, our collective history. For well over a hundred years, Main Streets have served as microcosms of their respective towns, reflecting the spirit of the people who built them.
Partnering with Main Street America, we’ve created a grant fund that presents a unique opportunity for eligible Main Street communities to create meaningful and memorable experiences for community members, centered by the total eclipse. This program is intentionally designed for Main Street towns to actively engage residents with science.
Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 40 years. Today it is a network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.
Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization
The Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization (UJRO) are partnering with local organizations to ensure the total eclipse in Jackson, Missouri, provides a meaningful and memorable experience for its residents. “Total Eclipse of the Heartland” will take place in Uptown Jackson and will include science activities led by STEM classrooms of local schools that will invite audiences of all ages to stoke their curiosity. UJRO will also be partnering with organizations like the Jackson Community Outreach Board, local schools and libraries, the Cape Girardeau County History Center, and many other organizations to ensure a great experience for all.
Main Street Kent
The excitement is building as Main Street Kent prepares for a blackout Kent, Ohio, will never forget! The Kent Event: Total Eclipse 2024 will take place over a three-day period from Saturday, April 6 to Monday, April 8, 2024, and will include many different science engagement activities, such as the unveiling of a community-created, permanent art mural celebrating the Kent Total Solar Eclipse. There will also be an immersive learning experience at the Kent State University Planetarium, displays and kiosks spread throughout the downtown district with information about the local eclipse events, and educational information on eclipses. Main Street Kent’s local partners include Kent State University, the Kent Parks and Recreation Department, and local businesses in downtown Kent.
Beautiful Paducah (with Paducah Main Street)
Paducah Main Street and Beautiful Paducah will be organizing a two-day total solar eclipse community festival from Sunday, April 7 to Monday, April 8, 2024 in the heart of Paducah’s historic downtown district. Having already experienced the 2017 total solar eclipse, Paducah is excited to create an all-encompassing and immersive experience centered around this “twice” in a life-time natural science phenomenon. Some activities include a children’s and adult eclipse and science trivia scavenger hunt that takes participants around community landmarks and local businesses, and public programs hosted by the River Discovery Center, Paducah’s local museum located in the heart of the festival. Other community partners include local organizations and businesses.
North Vernon Main Street
North Vernon will be hosting a two-day festival called Explore the Dark SolarFest that centers around eclipse science, art and nature with the aim of spurring curiosity and interest in science for the local youth and adults in their rural farming community. Throughout the festival, there will be a wide variety of science engagement activities that include eclipse scavenger hunts, a creative science show by local youth, lunch and learns, and a community science mural. Some of North Vernon Main Street’s partners include the Jennings County Public Library, Jennings County Schools, Perceptions Yoga and the Park Theatre Civic Centre, as well as local businesses and artists.
Houlton Downtown Renaissance Committee {under the Town of Houlton}
Main Street Brookville, Inc.
Main Street Brookville is honored to host Eclipse: In the Path of Totality — Brookville’s first science-based festival. On the day of the eclipse, the event, held on Brookville’s historic main street, will take place, and will feature science stations organized by the local middle and high schools with a focus on the sky, a science-based window competition for local businesses, and a community-grown mural at ColorWorks, Brookville’s local greenhouse. The event will incorporate hands-on engagement to show science is for everyone and create lasting learning opportunities for community residents in the hours leading up to and culminating in the total eclipse event.
Historic Downtown Sikeston
Sikeston, Missouri, will be hosting a full weekend of events leading up to the day of the eclipse, featuring activities that will all take place in the downtown commercial district. Activities include telescope viewing throughout downtown Sikeston, a collaborative program between the organization Animal Tales and the local library to discuss the effects of the eclipse on nocturnal animals. Other partners include the Historic Midtown Development Group, the Parks Department, the Sikeston Regional Chamber and the Sikeston’s Visitor Center.
Main Street Morrilton
Main Street Morrilton has worked alongside the City of Morrilton, Conway County, the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Conway County Economic Development Corporation to develop a dilapidated downtown site into multi-use outdoor event space that will serve as a hub for eclipse-related events. Educational programming will take place in the days leading up to, and during, the eclipse. Vendors will be invited to line Moose Street throughout the weekend, and local organizations will host interactive eclipse activities and entertainment.
Solar Rodeo
City of Granger
Located in a small farming community, Granger, Texas, is excited to host a science fair that will include the local school and surrounding small towns that are similar in size to Granger (populations with less than 2,000 people). The eclipse is a chance to put this tight-knit community in the spotlight and bring science to the young and old of Granger.
City of Eagle Pass
The City of Eagle Pass will be putting on a weekend-long concert/music festival on the weekend leading up to the solar eclipse, attracting locals to enjoy the festivities. The viewing of the eclipse will be held at the town’s Student Activity Center in Shelby Park, and Heavenly Farms, a local pecan farm. At both locations, solar eclipse glasses will be distributed. There will also be an arts activity and science exhibit located at the Arts and Culture Center in the Downtown District.
SoMa 501 Little Rock, Inc.
Little Rock, Arkansas will be home to SoMa in the Dark — the town's eclipse celebration and an extension of the town's popular SoMa After Dark' series — and will feature an overarching theme of science-based engagement through the arts. Activities will include pop ups at local businesses, a nighttime parade through South Main Street, Astro Entertainment live performances, and a viewing event on the day of the eclipse. The activation will invite residents to imagine a new experience on Main Street and invite them to shape and participate in science-based activities leading up to and on display at the events.
Main Street Pittsburg
Pittsburg, Texas, is excited for the ability to experience and celebrate the 2024 solar eclipse with the community. Science engagement activities will take place as early as the month before the eclipse, helping residents learn more about what an eclipse is and preparing them to experience the cosmic event. On the day of the event, a dedicated viewing area with vendors, food and entertainment will be placed in downtown Pittsburg and will feature local businesses. Pittsburg’s partners include the City of Pittsburg, the County Library, the local community college and the Pittsburg Art Council.
Malvern Downtown Development
Eclipse Over Brick City is Malvern, Arkansas,’ flagship event that will engage and provide creative activities for the community to learn about the eclipse. In the weekend leading up to the eclipse, there will be outdoor space-themed movie events, a music festival that will feature science stations, and, on the day of the eclipse, a viewing event that will engage residents and inspire learning. Eclipse Over Brick City will impact residents positively by providing opportunities for engagement in the sciences, and interactive experiences for the community. Partners throughout the event include the Museum of Discovery, local civic clubs and Malvern’s local library.