Last week, we were invited to “ROC the eclipse” with Visit Rochester at The Franklin Institute. The cocktail mixer reminded Philadelphia that on Rochester will be a perfect viewing spot for next year’s solar eclipse: three minutes and 38 seconds of totality on April 8, 2024. Rochester is the largest city to be in the path of totality for this duration in proximity to cities like Philadelphia, as well as NYC and Boston. If you’re thinking of being a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, book your hotel rooms in Rochester now and plan to celebrate with their four-day festival.
Events that take place during this time in Rochester will include:
Rochester Museum & Science Center, ‘Roc the Eclipse Festival,’ a four-day festival filled with hands-on activities, speakers, music, food, and more. The RMSC has been the regional lead on coordination and planning for the eclipse, even hiring an eclipse partnership coordinator several years out from the big event.
The Strong National Museum of Play will mark the 2024 eclipse with a three-day celebration themed around playing with light. Guests will be able to create art on a Lite Brite-like board, craft a kaleidoscope, make shadow puppets in a shadow puppet theater, and more. The museum will also showcase a mini display of space-themed toys and games from its collections.
*a new hotel very close to the Strong National Museum of Play opened this summer: the Hampton Inn & Suites Rochester Downtown
Genesee Country Village & Museum, the third largest living history museum in the United States, is planning a special event, including special seasonal hours, for the eclipse. GCVM will be open the weekend leading up to the eclipse, and then open that Monday with special programming and eclipse-viewing opportunities, including spots in the museum’s Great Meadow or in the Vintage Base Ball Field (or a number of other open field-type options), to very much more exclusive viewing experiences (rent a Victorian mansion for the day!). https://www.gcv.org/event/2024-total-eclipse-at-gcvm/
Total Eclipse of the Port at SUNY Brockport. Brockport, a town and village in the western part of Monroe County, will be in the center of the path of totality in this region, enjoying a full five seconds of additional totality from neighboring towns in the line. The Total Eclipse of the Port will include more than just a viewing experience of the eclipse. Leading up to the event, SUNY Brockport plans to have food trucks on campus and other festivities that will extend into the night
Total Eclipse of the Park in the Town of Perinton – celebrations in town parks in Perinton, home of the village of Fairport alongside the Erie Canal.
The Strathallan Rochester Hotel & Spa (a Doubletree by Hilton) even put together an eclipse package! They have a room block reserved for April 5, 2024 through April 9, 2024. There is a three-night-minimum length-of-stay required in order to receive the discounted rate (which includes breakfast). Info about that can be found here.
Viewing locations in Rochester include:
High Falls, a 96-foot waterfall in downtown Rochester
Roc the Eclipse Festival at RMSC Museum & Science Center
Parcel 5 in Downtown Rochester
Ontario Beach Park (along the Lake Ontario shoreline)
Hamlin Beach State Park (also on Lake Ontario)
Genesee Valley Park (along the Genesee River)
Campus of SUNY Brockport
In addition to the activities outlined above, there are many other events being planned throughout the Greater Rochester area – including special hotel packages. More details will be posted soon to:
https://rochestereclipse2024.org/
https://www.visitrochester.com/rochester-ny-total-solar-eclipse/
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