The eclipse is coming!
Parts of Missouri and Kansas are in the direct path of the phenomenon, and it’s causing quite a boom in tourism.
Hotels along the route are already selling out as people gear up to watch the first eclipse to pass over the state of Missouri in 148 years.
Camping at state parks is also an option, but be sure to check with your local park to see if you need a reservation.
The Missouri State Parks website has an extensive list of the parks in the direct path of the total eclipse, and it also tells you which parks require reservations.
Those closest to the metro include Weston Bend State Park, Lewis and Clark State Park and Big Lake State Park. All three require reservations for camping, but are open to the public on the day of the eclipse.
There are fewer events on the Kansas side, because the eclipse path only touches a small portion of the northeastern corner of the state. You can see the eclipse path over Kansas here, and over Missouri here.
You don’t have to be an eclipse chaser to find the best spot to catch a glimpse of “The Great American Eclipse.” Pick a place from this list, pack a picnic and get your solar eclipse glasses ready.
Events are organized alphabetically by the city in which they occur.
If you know of an event we should consider adding to this page, you can email us here.
MISSOURI
Where: Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Arrow Rock, Missouri
When: Aug. 20 9 p.m. – 10 p.m. (star gazing walk), Aug. 21 10 a.m. – 2:38 p.m. (astronomy lecture and eclipse viewing)
Where: Bonne Terre Airport, Bonne Terre, Missouri
When: Aug. 19 – 21, 2-day festival and eclipse viewing to follow
Where: St. Francois State Park, Bonne Terre, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 11 a.m. – end of eclipse
Hidden Figures: African Americans, Eclipses and Astronomy
Where: Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, Bufordville, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Totality – Eclipse Viewing Festival
Where: Chesterfiled, Missouri (St. Louis area)
When: Aug. 21, see website for specific times and viewing places
Eclipse: Journey with the Sun Across the Gans Creek Wild Area
Where: Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Columbia, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Where: Columbia, Missouri
When: Aug. 20 – 21, see website for specific event details
Where: Washington State Park, De Soto, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 9 a.m. – end of eclipse
Light and Shadow Eclipse Events
Where: Fulton, Missouri
When: Aug. 18 – 21, see website for specific event details
Where: Mastodon State Historic Site, Imperial, Missouri.
When: Aug. 21 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Jefferson City, Missouri
When: Aug. 19 – 21, see website for specific event details
Total Solar Eclipse – Safe Viewing Point
Where: Missouri State Museum, Jefferson City, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
City Market Total Eclipse Watch Party
Where: City Market, Kansas City, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., see website for specific event details
Lathrop Sesquicentennial and 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
Where: Lathrop, Missouri
When: Aug. 18 – 21, see website for specific festival details
Total Eclipse of the Battlefield
Where: Battle of Lexington State Historic Site, Lexington, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Owensville, MO
When: Aug. 18 – 21, see website for specific festival details
Where: Jenkin and Barbara David Theater at Alumni Hall, Park University, Parkville, Missouri
When: Aug. 20 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Comfort Field Parking Lot, Park University, Parkville, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 12:30 p.m. – end of eclipse
Where: Perryville, Missouri
When: Aug. 18 – 21, see website for specific festival details
Eclipse Viewing in E.H. Young Riverfront Park
Where: E.H. Young Park, Riverside, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Total Eclipse of the Katy Bicycle Ride
Where: Starts at Katy Trail entrance in Rocheport and ends in Jefferson City
When: Aug. 21 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: St. Clair, Missouri
When: Aug. 18 – 21, see website for specific event details
A Special Note about St. Joseph
St. Joseph has a long history of science, astrology, and astronomy. It’s also the third best place in the country to see The Great American Eclipse.
To celebrate the historical moment, St. Joseph has many events planned throughout the weekend.
Most of the historical attractions are offering special solar eclipse related exhibits leading up to and during the eclipse.
The Pony Express National Museum: Aug 18-21
- Astronomy lesson inside the 1860’s, one room school house
- Meet living history character-Mabel Loving, who shared her experience of the total eclipse she experienced in Garden City, Kansas in 1918.
- Hear from living history characters like Mary Alicia Ownen’s story about her friends the Proctor family and their connection to astronomy.
Missouri Western State University: Aug. 20
- Guest speakers: Astronomy Magazine Senior Editor Michael Bakich, Meteorologist Bryan Busby, Astronomy Professor Mike Reynolds and Astronomer Derrick Pitts
- Extended hours
- Space displays
- Photo-op with a real NASA space suit
- Special eclipse shows at Bushman Planetarium.
Rolling Hills Library: Aug. 19
- The nature of solar eclipses: learn the facts about solar eclipses and how to safely view one.
Rosecrans Memorial Airport: Aug 21
- Large camping and RV area
- Amateur and professional astronomers with telescopes
- Astronomy Magazine Senior Editor Michael Bakich will have a running commentary from the airport that can be heard on radio stations.
If none of those catch your fancy, you can view the eclipse from these locations in St. Joesph:
- East Hills Mall
- Civic Center Park
- St. Joseph Museum/Glore Psychiatric Museum
- St. Joseph Public Libraries
- Remington Nature Center
- Heritage Park Softball complex
- Albrecht-Kemper museum of Art
Where: Felix Valle House Historic Site, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: Hawn State Park, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
When: Aug. 19 7 p.m. (blues concert), Aug. 20 7 p.m. (eclipse lecture), Aug. 21 11:50 a.m. – end of eclipse
Where: Trails End Landmark, Sedalia, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 10:30 a.m. – end of eclipse
Where: Meramec State Park, Sullivan, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: Washington, Missouri
When: Aug. 19 – 21, see website for specific celebration details
Celebrate the 2017 Total Eclipse
Where: Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, Wildwood, Missouri
When: Aug. 21 10 a.m. – end of eclipse
KANSAS
Where: Amelia Earhart Airport, Atchison, Kansas
When: Aug. 21 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Total Eclipse of the Heartland
Where: Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas
When: Aug. 20, 7p.m. (presentation), Aug. 21, 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (eclipse viewing and other events)
Total Eclipse in the Parks (Johnson County)
Where: Antioch Park, Merriam, Kansas, Theatre in the Park, Shawnee, Kansas and Heritage Park, Olathe, Kansas
When: Aug. 21, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Kansas City T-Bones Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
Where: Community America Ballpark, Kansas City, Kansas
When: Aug. 21 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Leavenworth Landing Park, Leavenworth, Kansas
When: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Total Solar Eclipse in the Black Squirrel City
Where: Lakeview Sports Complex, Marysville, Kansas
When: Aug. 21, 11:37 a.m. – end of eclipse
Where: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Strong City, Kansas
When: Aug. 21 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, Topeka, Kansas
When: Aug. 19 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Eclipse in the Heartland Events
Where: Troy, Highland and Elwood, Kansas
When: Aug. 20 – 21, see website for specific event details
