A historical event is on the horizon, and Carter County residents are invited to take part.
The Elizabethton Carter County Public Library and Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition are joining together with other entities to provide a Great American Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Party on Monday, Aug. 21, from noon to 2 p.m. (tentatively) at Kiwanis Park in Elizabethton.
According to information provided by NASA, the dubbed “Great American” Total Solar Eclipse will be visible all across North America with the entire continent experiencing a partial eclipse “lasting two to three hours,” and anyone within a 70-mile-wide path spanning 14 states, including Tennessee, will get a chance to see the total eclipse. Last full total eclipse visible from coast to coast in the United States was last reported on June 8, 1918.
Residents will have the opportunity to take part in the fun Monday Wednesday thanks in part to the sizeable donation of eclipse glasses from NASA and other organizations to the public library, including STAR_NET and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Ashlee Williams, children’s librarian, alluded to the fact the facility received the glasses due to an application process. While the glasses are not being given away at the library, they will be dispersed at three separate events.
Williams stated that the library will present 100 glasses during the Downtown Elizabethton Farmers Market on Tuesday, Aug. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. — located in the parking lot at First Christian Church on F Street. Children’s activities will also be available during the market.
Residents will have a second opportunity Sunday, Aug. 20, during the Elizabethton Twins home game at Joe O’Brien Field against the Johnson City Cardinals. First pitch is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. and 250 glasses will be presented. The remaining glasses will be available during the actual viewing party.
Along with the fun of viewing the total eclipse, which is scheduled to happen after 2 p.m. locally, Williams added the event will feature a bevy of activities for children.
“There will be different arts and crafts, snacks and other goodies that are based around the eclipse,” she said. “With schools dismissing early, children will be able to have some fun during the day before seeing the eclipse.”
Encouraging children and the public to attend the event is an exciting initiative, according to Jilian Reece, director of the county’s drug prevention coalition.
“It’s great and we definitely want to encourage the public to come out and have some fun,” Reece said Tuesday. “There will be different community partners at the event. It’s the perfect way for the community to come together for such a historic event and learn more about what our area has to offer.”
The eclipse allows NASA the “unique opportunity” to study the sun, Earth, moon and their interactions. According to the organization, the opportunity is perfect due to the eclipse’s long path from the West Coast to the East Coast. Over 10 NASA and NOAA satellites, the International Space Station, more than 50 high-altitude balloons and hundreds of ground resources will be active during the eclipse.
Members of the public unable to attend one of the library’s events can purchase glasses from different stores, including Wal-Mart for $1 and Lowe’s for over $2 but the package also includes a book. NASA will also provide a TV broadcast and live streams of the eclipse.
For more information on the local viewing party, visit either the Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library or Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition Facebook pages online.