Perryville Solarfest to celebrate Heartland Eclipse
PERRYVILLE, Mo. (KFVS) - The Perryville Solarfest will take place the weekend leading up to and including the Heartland Eclipse on Monday, April 8.
Events will include hot air balloon rides, live music and more.
Trish Erzfeld with Perry County Historic Tourism joined Jeffrey Bullard on Heartland Afternoon on March 18 to talk about how people can best take advantage of all that’s offered.
“We’re gonna see a lot of new events in our area. That is one of the things that we wanted to do, to expose our community to things that they haven’t seen before,” Erzfeld said.
To make the most of it all, she recommends people plan to arrive early and allow more time for travel, as traffic is expected to be much heavier in the days leading up to and following Heartland Eclipse 2024.
“I would rather folks arrive early and have a few minutes to spare, than to get caught in traffic and miss the big show.”
People should also secure eclipse glasses ahead of time, and travel with them so that they can be ready when the moment arrives.
According to NASA, eclipse glasses marked with ISO-12312-2 are the ones people need to use.
While there will be food vendors present, Erzfeld said people should also pack some snacks and drinks to be safe.
The majority of the events at Solarfest are free and open to the public. Some cost money, or are otherwise limited due to space or availability.
April 8 eclipse viewing in Perryville begins at 1 p.m. Erzfeld said people should plan to arrive a few hours early on the big day. “Make camp, get settled, get you some snacks, and just wait for the magic to happen.”
Seven years ago, Perryville wasn’t just a hot spot for eclipse viewers from the Heartland. People from all over the country, and the world, went there to see the spectacle.
“In 2017, we had 36 states and 17 countries represented in Perryville, and many of those are coming back.”
She said visitors from Canada, Japan, France and several states have already confirmed they’ll be present in 2024.
The last go ‘round also broke a record, with 147 planes flying into Perryville Regional Airport, marking the largest event to take place there since it was built during World War II.
“We’re looking to break that record this year,” Erzfeld said.
The three-day SolarFest begins bright and early April 6. Continue reading for a complete outline of events.
Saturday, April 6
- 7:30 a.m. - Hot air balloon rides at Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial (weather permitting)
- 10 a.m. - American Tractor Museum (ends at 2 p.m.)
- 10 a.m. - Perry County Sundial Unveiling at the Perry County Courthouse
- 11 a.m. - Sky Dome Planetarium at the Perry Park Center (five shows and last show starts at 4 p.m.)
- Noon - Hemman Winery featuring the eclipse wine release
- 2 p.m. - Warehouse Eclipse Foam Party at the Warehouse Entertainment District (ends at 5 p.m.)
- 5 p.m. - Cruise-in at downtown Perryville
- 6:30 p.m. - Live music by “Bat out of Hell” at the Downtown Perryville Plaza (ends at 8 p.m.)
- 7:30 p.m. - Balloon Glow Show at Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial (weather permitting)
- 9 p.m. - Live music by “Big Love” at the Downtown Perryville Plaza (ends at 11 p.m.)
Sunday, April 7
Visit the museums
- Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial
- Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal National Shrine
- Perry County Museum - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Perry County Military History Museum - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum in Altenburg - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Faherty House (Perryville’s oldest residential home) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Catholic Heritage Center and Museum in Apple Creek - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visit the natural areas
- Tower Rock Natural Area
- Ball Mill Resurgence Natural Area
- Old Appleton Bridge
Other events
- Noon - Hemman Winery - eclipse wine release
- 6 p.m. - 5K Glow Run/Walk in downtown Perryville
- 6 p.m. - Silent Disco at The Warehouse Entertainment District
Monday, April 8
Eclipse viewing sites
- Perryville City Park - takes group reservations
- Bank of Missouri Soccer Complex
- Perryville Regional Airport - geared to pilots
- Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum in Altenburg
- Hemman Winery in Brazeau
- Old Appleton Bridge in Old Appleton
For more eclipse events throughout the Heartland, visit our Heartland Eclipse page here.
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