Lots of eclipse activities planned for weekend in performance by Cassadee Pope

Apr. 1—In just under a week, downtown Washington will be bustling with vendors, concerts, children's activities and more. It's all part of the Total Solar Eclipse Festival. Events are being hosted by Discover Downtown Washington, the Washington Carnegie Public Library and others.

The eclipse may not happen until April 8 but events along Main Street and others sprinkled around town, will take place throughout the weekend, including a concert by The Voice winner Cassadee Pope on April 7 and a vendor fair throughout the weekend.

Pope, known for her platinum-selling "Wasting All These Tears" and Grammy nominated "Think of You" duet with Chris Young, will perform Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. Tailgate Revival will serve as her opening act.

"This will be a taste of what the community can expect once the The Commons is completed later this year," Amber Warden, community coordinator for Discover Downtown Washington. "We have several area artists who will be performing throughout the weekend along with many vendors and other activities."

Discover Downtown events are funded through support from the City of Washington, TrueScripts and RTC, among others.

Saturday's music lineup includes the 4-H Performing Arts Contest at The Indiana Theater at 10 a.m., Gauge Keiller at 11 a.m., JR's Acoustic Romp at noon, Phantom Sam at 1 p.m., Jenna and Joe at 2:30 p.m., The Ed Rodimel Band at 4 p.m., Rokk at 5:30 p.m. and Whoaman at 7:30 p.m.

Yoga on Main will also offer a session at the stage located at East Second and Main Street beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. The Daviess County Museum will offer a program on the history of eclipses from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The community mural build will take place in the breezeway from 3 to 5 p.m. Washington Catholic will also host bingo beginning at 6 p.m., the same time the Knight's of Columbus treasure hunt drawing takes place.

Beer gardens hosted by Champion Lanes and Knights of Columbus will be open downtown for those 21 and older throughout the weekend.

In addition to Pope's performance, Sunday will feature music from Three Girls and a Moustache at 1 p.m., Foxlin at 2:30 p.m., Trey Knepp at 4 p.m. with Tailgate Revival taking the stage at 5:30 p.m.

RTC will be offering the Total Eclipse Car Show from 10 to 1 p.m. While the Miss Indiana Eclipse Pageant will begin at 1 p.m. at Washington High School. Perdue Farms will also be doing a silent disco from 5 to 7 p.m. A silent disco will also take place Monday at 10 a.m.

Other events taking place daily during the three-day celebration include daily book signings with local author Nicole Ruble, vendor market opening at 10 a.m. and the Purdue Extension Solarbration.

At noon, the Look Up Party will take place at the Washington Carnegie Public Library.

WCPL STEM Coordinator Cailey Moreland attended eclipse training with the Space Science Institute and the entire team at the library has been trained in all things eclipse. Leading up to the celestial spectacle the library has offered several free programs to help educate the community. Monday's event though will be a watch party.

Pearl Miller, community engagement specialist, said the community is invited to the library grounds beginning at noon Monday.

"We will have the Scoops Ice Cream trailer here starting at noon and people are welcome to bring their lunch and enjoy it here on the lawn," said Miller, adding at 1 p.m., face painting and carnival games will be available.

At 1:47 p.m., Moreland said the partial eclipse, the part where spectators will need to wear their eclipse glasses, will begin.

"At 2:30, we will start our countdown to the total eclipse then at 3:05, the total eclipse will begin," Moreland said, adding once the total eclipse is over, it's important to put the eclipse glasses back on until the partial eclipse ends at 4:21 p.m.

With the potential for many visitors to be in the area, shuttle service will be running from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on April 6 and 7 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 8. The list of pick up and drop off points as well as the complete schedule of events and vendor participants can be found at discoverdowntownwashington.com under the eclipse tab.

More information on the activities at the Washington Carnegie Public Library Look Up Party can be found at washingtonpubliclibrary.org.