Solar Eclipse Draws Stellar Crowds from Near and Far

The Groesbeck Chamber of Commerce and Old Fort Parker Park officials were over the moon Monday, April 8, about the success of their Solar Eclipse Viewing Party.
Locals and visitors from Huntsville, Houston, Conroe, and some out-of-staters came to Old Fort Parker to enjoy the amazing celestial event. People set up lawn chairs or laid out towels and blankets and watched the sky together in awe.
The chamber had a festive eclipse-themed playlist playing before and after totality but turned it down so everyone could hear the confused birds coming home to roost, crickets chirping, and other nocturnal wildlife during totality.
Z-Man’s BBQ was onsite providing food for hungry viewers, and the chamber had a table with snacks, commemorative t-shirts, and solar viewing glasses.
According to the Groesbeck Police Department, between 75 to 100 people were at Hawkins Park viewing the eclipse, and around 300 were in the city park. Despite the influx of visitors, the parks were left virtually spotless, with no reported wrecks or complaints. Traffic did become congested on Highway 164 when traffic was diverted off of Highway 6 in McLennan County, but Groesbeck Police Chief Chris Henson and Detective John Blanco were able to alleviate it by directing traffic at the intersection of Highway 164 and Highway 14 for an hour.
According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse viewable in the continental U.S. will be in 2044 and will only be viewable in North Dakota and Montana.

More photos of the Eclipse and the viewing event can be found in the Eclipse Photo Album.