Graphic provided by the Indiana Capital Chronicle
Most of Columbus and Bartholomew County will be focused on the solar eclipse today, and residents should be prepared to find some regular services and schedules changed for this cosmic event.
Eclipse closings
The following closings have been announced for today’s solar eclipse:
- The city of Columbus and Bartholomew County offices and buildings will be closed today, as employees will be providing support to first responders and events. There will be no Columbus curbside trash collections on today. All curbside collections will be delayed by one day, with Friday’s pickups occurring on Saturday, April 13.
- Columbus City Utilities will be drive-up only today and the lobby will be closed. Those with a problem with water or sewer service should call 812-372-8861 and follow the prompts. In case the utilities lose phone service, there will be temporary numbers for today only. If the main telephone line is down, call 812-341-7577 if you have a water emergency. If you have a sewer emergency, call 812-657-2853. These numbers will only be active if service to the main line is not operational.
- Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., Flat Rock – Hawcreek Schools, IU Columbus, Ivy Tech, Purdue Polytechnic, and the Columbus Learning Center will be closed today.
- Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management facilities, including the recycling center, offices, commercial cardboard route, and the Bartholomew County Landfill, will be closed today, all reopening at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Updated information is available at bcswmd.com.
- ColumBUS will run limited routes. Special routes will be established to events downtown and at AirPark Columbus.
- The Republic offices will be closed today to customers, but newsroom staff will be covering eclipse events throughout the day on today. Visit therepublic.com today and Tuesday for eclipse coverage.
Where to watch
There are a large number of solar eclipse events to consider attending on Monday. For the list, visit https://www.columbus.in.gov/. Here are a few of note:
- Eclipsing the Renaissance Festival, noon to 4:30 p.m. M0nday, Columbus Municipal Airport, 4770 Ray Boll Boulevard. Live Celtic music, food such as turkey legs, ZwanzigZ Production Brewery craft beer, jousting tournament, ax throwing and more. Free. Information: Facebook page for Eclipsing the Renaissance April 8 2024.
- CERA Sports Park & Campground’s Total Solar Eclipse Party Weekend, all day Monday, 3989 S. County Road 525E, live music, food trucks, bounce houses, and more. Entrance: $10 per vehicle. Information: ceraland.org.
- Total Eclipse of the Hope, Hope Town Square on Main Street, featuring games, live music, food, merchandise vendors and more.
- Great American Eclipse Solarbration, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, 450 North Brewing Company, 8111 E. County Road 450N, north of Columbus. Food trucks, live music, beer release, wine and spirits and more.
- Total Eclipse at The Farm, noon to 5 p.m. Monday, featuring “Eclipsarmonia: A Historic Spectacle” at the Henry Breeding Farm, 13730 N 100 W, near Edinburgh with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic chamber orchestra. The Bartholomew County Historical Society’s day will include make-and-take activities, Silly Safari with a variety of animals, and traditional farm activities – blacksmithing, steam engine rides, corn shelling, hit-and-miss engine demonstrations, hay climbing structure, wagon rides. Cost: $15 for advance tickets and $20 per carload the day of the event. Information and tickets: bartholomewhistory.org
Looking for events elsewhere
The state has compiled a list of events occurring in the swath of totality. Visit https://www.visitindiana.com/eclipse2024/ for details.
One of the larger events will be in Indianapolis where the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was selected as a National Air and Space Administration (NASA) broadcast location. Now it’s got a packed schedule featuring multiple astronauts, IndyCar drivers, NASA officials and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb. The brickyard will also host technical and family-friendly educational programming. Visit https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/eclipse for details, including a reminder that the speedway is now a totally cash-less facility and does have rules about what you can, and cannot bring into the facility. There are also parking tips and other helpful information.
Traffic congestion
Local officials say traffic will increase through the weekend and on Monday, as people travel through Bartholomew County on their way to a viewing site, or arrive here. For information about traffic or inquiries on events, call 812-669-5305.
Road closings
Columbus Police Department said there will be one road closing for the weekend, Washington Street will be closed between Third and Fifth streets and Fourth Street will be closed between Jackson and Franklin streets for the Total Solarbration.
No road closures are planned for Monday, although their may be some areas blocked off around the AirPark in north Columbus for “Eclipsing the Renaissance.”
Safety tips
Officials advise residents to use eclipse glasses or solar viewers that meet ISO 12312-2 standards (sometimes written as ISO 12312-2:2015).
Do not look at the sun directly and do not view the eclipse through regular sunglasses as they will not protect your eyes.
Do not view the eclipse through binoculars or a camera viewfinder.
Do not use homemade filters or welder’s glass.
For a list of vendors selling safe, eclipse-viewing products, visit the American Astronomical Society’s Suppliers of Safe Solar Filters and viewers page online.
