For more information about the total solar eclipse on April 8, including where to watch, start time and events happening around San Antonio, check out our guide.
Texans across the state are eagerly anticipating next week’s total solar eclipse, which will span from Del Rio to Texarkana, giving those in its path two to four minutes of totality where the moon temporarily blocks out the sun.
Considered by many to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the total solar eclipse has inspired more than two dozen festivals across the Lone Star State, ranging from full-on acres-wide music festivals to quaint gatherings in town squares.
These festivals are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the state.
Texas could see more than a million visitors for the April 8 eclipse, according to GreatAmericanEclipse.com. Texas is among the most-booked states across all of North America on Airbnb for the event, according to a press statement issued by Airbnb last month.
Want to watch the eclipse with 50,000 of your closest friends? Here’s a roundup of some of the amazing eclipse festivals set to take place:
The Texas Eclipse Festival
The official Texas Eclipse Festival will be held April 5-9 at Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet. This large-scale music festival includes a full line-up of EDM and other musical artists playing across six space-themed stages. The festival will feature art installations, space-related panels and science workshops with speakers discussing space exploration, technology and artificial intelligence. Tickets start at $250. Get more information here.
Total Eclipse Experience
This family-friendly camping event will take place April 6-9 at the Cave Without a Name northeast of Boerne. With plenty of time to explore the cave and its grounds, this event will be great for the outdoorsy type. The festival offers a chance to learn about the stellar solar event, by way of eclipse presentations and science panels, before witnessing it on Monday, April 8. Learn more here.
Celest Fest Eclipse
This unique spiritual festival runs April 5-9 at Camp Tahuaya in Belton, about 50 miles north of Austin. Celest Fest is a four-day “connective experience” where up to 500 people will “create a village together” and cohabitate. If you’re looking to get in touch with your inner self during this celestial event, Celest Fest is the festival for you. Read more about it here.
Kerrclipse Festival
The Kerrclipse Festival, just one of several Kerrville eclipse festivals, will be held April 5-8 at the Quiet Valley Ranch. At the center of the path of totality, those who visit Kerrville will experience more than four minutes of totality on April 8. The festival will include music, food, vendors and science presentations and will benefit the Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation. Get more information here.
Kerrville Eclipse Festival
The Kerrville Eclipse Festival will include scientific speakers, live music, children’s programming and four minutes and 25 seconds of totality. Chosen as a livestream site by NASA, this free event will be held April 8 at Louise Hays Park at 202 Thompson Drive in Kerrville. Learn more about it here.
Eclipse Over Texas
Set to take place on the campus of Baylor University in Waco, the Eclipse Over Texas Festival will host food trucks, science talks and interactive and family-friendly activities. Those at the festival will experience four minutes and 13 seconds of totality, along with musical performances, telescope experiences and educational activities. Read more about the event here.
Texas Star Party
This four-night event will take place April 5-9 at Latham Springs Camp & Retreat Center, 20 miles northwest of Waco, and will feature speakers, activities, 11 meals, scientific seminars and special guests. Attendees will experience four minutes and 23 seconds of totality. Find your tickets for the Texas Star Party here.
The Total Solar Eclipse Experience
Dallas and Forth Worth residents looking to get outside of the city for totality just need to look south to Waxahachie, where The Total Solar Eclipse Experience will be held on April 7 and 8. This event will host guest lecturers, complimentary eclipse glasses and a prime viewing location offering 4 minutes and 19 seconds of totality. Click here to learn more.
Camp Cosmico Eclipse Festival
This festival will take place April 4-8 near Ennis, just south of Dallas at Camp Cosmico, a glamping campground at the Texas Motorplex that offers solace from the city. This four-day festival will feature music, a lantern experience, drag races and more. Learn about this unique festival here.
Texclipse Music Festival
The Texclipse Music Festival is set to kick off April 5 at the Hill Country Fairgrounds in Junction and will run through April 8. With a cornhole tournament, chili cookoff, rodeo lineup, wine-tasting experience and live music, this festival is a true Texas event. The Texclipse Music Festival will feature Grammy Award-winning artist Rick Trevino along with Sunny Sweeney and Hooks & The Huckleberries. Get your tickets for the Texclipse Music Festival here.
Solar Eclipse Festival at Grapetown
Wine lovers, this is the eclipse festival for you. Set to take place in Fredericksburg, the Solar Eclipse Festival at Grapetown will be held April 8 at Grapetown Vineyards and the Fredericksburg Polo Club. This VIP event will feature a polo match capped with a farm-to-table dinner, live music, wine tasting and hot air balloon rides. Get your ticket for the event here.
Eclipse-O-Rama
How would you like to experience the solar eclipse with none other than Bill Nye the Science Guy? Eclipse-O-Rama, hosted in Fredericksburg by The Planetary Society, is a two-day festival with special celebrity guests such as Nye who will host engaging talks on astronomy and planetary sciences. This April 7-8 camping festival will also host exhibitor and activity booths, hands-on experiences and a star party prior to the eclipse. Learn more about this science-packed festival here.
Arch Ray Eclipse Musicfest
With a stacked music lineup, Fredericksburg’s Arch Ray Eclipse Musicfest, which runs April 7 and 8 at the Arch Ray Resort, is going to be a popular event. Featuring well-known artists such as Switchfoot, Kyle Park, Goo Goo Dolls and Cory Morrow, Arch Ray Eclipse Musicfest will also host an array of craft beers, wines and cocktails and a tasty food selection. Get your tickets here.
Hill Country Solar Eclipse Fest
Located in Dripping Springs, just west of Austin, the Hill Country Solar Eclipse Fest boasts an “out-of-this-world experience” April 7-9 at the Lucky Arrow Retreat. This immersive festival will host beer and wine tastings, live music performances, glamping and of course great viewing of the eclipse on April 8. Get your tickets for the Hill Country Solar Eclipse Fest here.
Bluebonnet Eclipse Festival
The Bluebonnet Eclipse Festival will take place April 5-9 at The Park at Yeager Creek, 10 miles west of Dripping Springs. This event will feature food trucks, a “solar market,” yoga sessions, special Texas food and wine tastings and a “totality toast” for its attendees. Get your tickets for this event here.
Cosmic Cowboy Eclipse Festival
Country music lovers, this will be the eclipse festival for you. This celestial country music festival will be held April 5-8 at the North Outlet Mall in Hillsboro and will feature award-winning artists like Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, Creed Fisher and Chris Janson. The festival will include a full carnival, games, rides and prizes as well as telescope area and space for parking. Buy your tickets for the Cosmic Cowboy Eclipse Festival here.
Pioneer Farms Eclipse Festival
Want to watch the total solar eclipse while experiencing what life was like for our pioneer ancestors? The Pioneer Farms Eclipse Festival just outside of Austin is the event for you. This festival, set to take place April 7-8 amid the real 18th-century structures at Pioneer Farms, will host an array of pioneer-inspired activities such as folk arts classes, archery lessons, fruit picking and basic blacksmithing lessons. Visit the website here.
