List: Solar eclipse viewing events, watch parties in central Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Communities across central Ohio are hosting watch parties for when the rare total solar eclipse looms over portions of the U.S. on April 8. Find an event near you below. Bevelhymer Park 7860 Bevelhymer Rd. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 4850 W Powell Rd. COSI 333 W Broad St. Hilliard Station Park 4021 Main [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Communities across central Ohio are hosting watch parties for when the rare total solar eclipse looms over portions of the U.S. on April 8. Find an event near you below.

Bevelhymer Park

7860 Bevelhymer Rd.

• There will be food trucks, science-based activities for kids, and free eclipse glasses to the first 2,000 attendees.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

4850 W Powell Rd.

• Eclipse viewing glasses will be provided to safely witness this natural phenomenon, but we also encourage guests to bring their own since demand will be high. COSI will be bringing a hands-on activity as well as modeling a solar eclipse to show how the moon blocks the sun.

COSI

333 W Broad St.

• COSI will offer hands-on educational STEAM demonstrations and activities, a live video stream of the eclipse in totality, free solar eclipse glasses and STEAM kits, while supplies last, and more.

Hilliard Station Park

4021 Main St.

• The special event in downtown Hilliard will include free eclipse glasses, a DJ, snacks, pictures with an astronaut character and more from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on April 8.

Hoff Woods Park

556 McCorkle Blvd.

• Guests are encouraged to bring their own blankets, chairs and eclipse glasses. The first 500 attendees will receive a gift bag containing various giveaways, eclipse glasses and fun eclipse themed snacks like Moon Pies, Sun Chips and Capri Sun.

Lawrence Orchards in Marion

2634 Smeltzer Rd.

• The orchard is hosting an "Appleclipse" of the Sun viewing event, with 600 eclipse glasses, yard games and live animals.

The MAiZE at Little Darby Creek

8657 Axe Handle Road

• The MAiZe will have live music, the Tortilla Street Food food truck, and the bar will be open serving a variety of drinks including some spacey themed signature drinks.

Malabar Farm State Park

4050 Bromfield Rd.

• Malabar Farm State Park grounds will be open and free to the public as usual. Access to the hayfields on foot will be allowed for viewing. There will be a small number of food trucks in the park during the event.  

Morrow County Fairgrounds

195 S Main St.

• The fairgrounds are open for viewing the eclipse, with more than 130 acres of unobstructed viewing.

Northwest Library Backyard

2280 Hard Rd.

• Make pinhole eclipse viewers, play cosmic trivia and more.

Ohio Caverns

2210 OH-245 E, West Liberty

• Experience the eclipse and total darkness at the caverns. "The Darkness Tour" includes entrance into the park with eclipse viewing throughout the park and special Ohio Caverns viewing glasses. The first 300 guests to get their tickets scanned receive an Ohio Caverns lantern for a guided tour through the caverns. 

Old Worthington Library Meeting Room

820 High St.

• Celebrate the sun with out-of-this-world crafts and activities.

Ohio History Connection's John & Annie Glenn Museum

72 West Main St, New Concord

• Take a tour of the museum and grab some refreshments and eclipse glasses, all free of charge.

Ohio Northern University

300 W College Ave., Ada

• The university is inviting the community to join them that day for a campus visit, lunch, solar eclipse programming, and the afternoon viewing of the eclipse.