Preparations are taking off for a solar eclipse expected to draw plenty of sky-gazing people to Chautauqua County in less than two months.
A two-day event is being planned at Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport to celebrate the eclipse in which the moon will cast its shadow across a stretch of the U.S., Mexico and Canada, and plunge millions of people into midday darkness.
Locally, the April 8 spectacle will begin around 3:15 p.m.
Shannon Fischer, manager of county airports, told members of the Jamestown City Council this week that a pancake breakfast will be held the mornings of April 7 and April 8 at the Jamestown airport. She also alluded to dozens of vendors who will be present.
Because Chautauqua County is in the eclipse’s path of totality, the area is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors.
“Regardless of weather, people are planning to come,” said Fischer, who told the Jamestown City Council that both of the county’s airports are expected to receive up to 100 aircraft each leading up to April 8. “We just had a video meeting on Friday for the airports. We plan to be busy.”
The Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau said the Chautauqua-Lake Erie region lies along the “optimal viewing path” for the April 8 solar eclipse.
“We are one of the top spots in the world for those who wish to witness the full effects of the eclipse,” the Visitors Bureau said on its website.
According to the Visitors Bureau, the partial phase of the eclipse will begin at 2:04 p.m. before the full eclipse at 3:18 p.m. The partial phase will end at 4:31 p.m.
Other eclipse-related events have been announced:
• Audubon Community Nature Center, 1600 Riverside Road, Jamestown, will host an eclipse watch event from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 8. The cost to park is $20 per vehicle; admission to the nature center is free.
The event will include horse-drawn wagon rides, live music and food trucks in addition to the 6 miles of hiking trails, live birds of prey and other animals to visit, as well as a Nature Center full of exhibits to explore.
• Barcelona Lighthouse State Park will hand out viewing glasses to the first 100 guests.
• Dunkirk Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum will welcome guests after 2 p.m. on April 8. The cost is $50 for a vehicle up to four people and $10 for everyone else. The cost is $100 to view the eclipse from the top of the lighthouse observation deck.
• Dunkirk will host Eclipse Fest from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 8 at the Clarion Hotel Conference Center, 30 Lake Shore Drive East, Dunkirk.
The indoor/outdoor community event will feature food, guest viewing glasses, entertainment, an ice sculpture demonstration and outdoor kids games.
• Fenton History Center, 67 Washington St., will host an eclipse watch party from 1 to 5 p.m. on April 8. It will include music, a food truck and bake sale.
Parking is free.
The cost to attend the party and tour the museum is $10. The cost to attend the watch party only is $3.
• Heron Campground and PFM Event Center, 2361 Waits Corners Road, Sherman, will host a two-day event, including a dance party April 7 and an eclipse watch event April 8. Costs range from $45 to attend the dance party, $58 to attend the eclipse event and $97 to attend both days.
• Midway State Park, 4859 Route 430, Bemus Point, will offer viewing glasses to the first 500 guests. Entry to the park will be free. An event will include activities for children and families and use of the carousel, mini-golf and train. All other rides and amusements will not be available.
A complete list of scheduled events can be found on the Visitors Bureau’s website at tourchautauqua.com/explore/2024-eclipse