The upcoming solar eclipse will plunge Little Rock, Ark., into darkness between 1:51 p.m. and 1:54 p.m., providing viewers with three minutes to experience the awe-inspiring totality. Eclipse viewers can also witness more than two hours of partial eclipse, starting around 12:30 p.m. Since the state is not likely to see another eclipse until 2044, residents are making the most of it and have planned many ways to enjoy the eclipse. These include a viewing party at Riverfront Park and a weekend-long festival in the South of Main (SoMA) neighborhood. The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will host a performance of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” while the Little Rock Zoo will host a party, which will include opportunities for close encounters with some of the resident animals. The Clinton Presidential Center will host a storytelling event, “When the Lights Went Out,” and host an eclipse-themed movie marathon with screenings of Fantasia and 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Since the path of totality will span over 100 miles across Arkansas, there are viewing parties and events throughout the state. In Greenbrier, Ark., about 45 minutes from the capital, Arkansas State University is hosting an Eclipse Circus under the stars. For those who want to experience the celestial event up close and personal, Skydive Arkansas in Clarksville, Ark., is offering jumps from airplanes during the expected three minute totality.
