Solar eclipse and pre-eclipse events across Pennsylvania

Across Pennsylvania, organizations from science centers to libraries to state parks have planned events around the total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21.

Most of the events are eclipse-watching parties. Some of the events have activities and programs beyond viewing the eclipse. We've listed those where they apply.

Many of the events will provide eclipse-viewing glasses while supplies last.

Here's the list:

Pre-eclipse events

Wednesday, Aug. 16, through Sunday, Aug 20

Harrisburg - "Eclipse Across America" planetarium show, The Planetarium at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North Street, 12:30 p.m. August 16 and 17, 12:15 and 2 p.m. August 18, and 1 p.m. August 19 and 20; 717-787-4980.

Saturday, August 19

Philadelphia - Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave., 12:30-7 p.m., Super Solar Saturday, with interactive science experiments, face-painting, live performances, and strolling Star Wars characters, ending with a 7 p.m. screening of "Hidden Figures;" 215-546-7900.

During the eclipse on Monday, August 21

Boyertown - Boyertown Community Library, 24 N. Reading Ave., noon, activities; 610-369-0496.

Carlisle - Dickinson College's Tome Hall roof observation deck, 343 W. Louther St., 1-4 p.m., 80 percent of sun covered at 2:37 p.m.; 717-245-1413.

Coudersport - Cherry Springs State Park, 4639 Cherry Springs Rd., 1-4 p.m., family-friendly activities, solar telescope; 814-435-1037.

Dallastown - St. John's Blymire's United Church of Christ, 1009 Blymire Road, 1-4 p.m., 79 percent of sun covered at 2:45 p.m.; 717-244-0655.

Darby - Darby Rec Center, 1022 Ridge Ave., noon-4 p.m., viewing plus science exhibits, quizzes and NASA live feed, sponsored by Darby Free Library; 610-586-7310.

Ephrata - Ephrata Public Library, 550 S. Reading Road, 2 p.m., program by NASA Solar System Ambassador Ed Pinero, educational activities, interpretive dance, a live stream, solar-themed refreshments; 717-738-9291.

Folcroft - Folcroft Library, 1725 Delmar Drive, 1-5 p.m., demonstrations and explanations by the Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers, activities for young children, filtered binoculars and telescopes; 610-586-1690.

Fredericksburg - Matthews Public Library, 102 W. Main Street, 1-4 p.m., activities and refreshments.

Graysville - Ryerson Station State Park, 361 Bristoria Road, 1-4 p.m.; 724-428-4254.

Haddonfield - Haddonfield Public Library, 60 Haddon Ave., 1-4 p.m.;  856-429-1304.

Holtwood - Muddy Run Observatory, 172 Bethesda Church Road West, noon-4 p.m., solar telescopes, educators.

La Plume - Keystone College observatory, 1-4 p.m., telescopes with special filters.

Lancaster - North Museum of Nature and Science, 400 College Ave., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., special presentations, NASA live webcast, specialized solar telescopes.

Latrobe - Saint Vincent College Sis and Herman Dupre Science Pavilion, 300 Fraser Purchase Rd., 1-4 p.m., projected views.

Laureldale - Muhlenberg Community Library, 3612 Kutztown Road, noon-4 p.m., snacks, crafts and videos.

Midland - Carnegie Library, 61 N. Street, 1-4:30 p.m., program; 724-643-8980.

Mount Joy - Milanof-Schock Library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, 2-3:30 p.m.; 717-653-1510.

Norristown - Norristown Public Library, 1:30-4 p.m.

North Lebanon - Baseball fields adjacent to Heisey's Diner, 1740 Rt. 72, 1:15-4 p.m., sponsored by the Greater Lebanon Valley Lions Club; telescopes, binoculars, solar filters and other projection devices for safe viewing; 757-613-3719.

Oakland - Carnegie Library, 4400 Forbes Avenue, 1-3 p.m., eclipse-themed craft.

Oakland - WQED Multimedia, 4802 Fifth Avenue, 1 p.m. , live-stream in Fred Rogers Studio.

Penfield - Parker Dam State Park, 28 Fairview Rd., 1-4 p.m.; 814-765-0630.

Philadelphia - The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., noon-4 p.m., pinhole-camera workshops, science educators to explain how and why eclipses happen, and monitors set up to show both the NASA feed and a live-stream of the total eclipse from St. Joseph, Missouri; 215-448-1200.

Philadelphia - Independence Seaport Museum's second-floor terrace, 211 S. Columbus Blvd., noon-4 p.m., BYO eclipse-watching picnic; 215-413-8655.

Philadelphia - Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1700 W. Montgomery Ave., eclipse model demonstrations, pinhole-camera workshop, screening of NASA broadcast, sun funnel telescope (set up for group projected-image viewing), eclipse sunglasses; 215-763-6529.

Philipsburg - Black Moshannon State Park, 4216 Beaver Rd., 1-4 p.m.; 814-342-5960.

Pittsburgh - Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., maximum sun coverage at 2:35 p.m., solar telescope, live video feeds.

Pittsburgh - Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, 10 Children's Way, 1:30-3 p.m., viewing, eclipse folktales, pinhole-camera making.

Reading - DoubleTree parking garage rooftop, 701 Penn St., 1-3 p.m., children's activities, food trucks, sponsored by Reading Public Library.

Reading - The Nature Place at Angelica Park, 575 St Bernardine Street, noon-3 p.m.

Springdale - Rachel Carson Homestead, 613 Marion Ave., 1-4 p.m., sponsored by Springdale Free Public Library; 724-274-9729.

State College - Mount Nittany Middle School, 656 Brandywine Drive, 1:15-4 p.m., 80 percent of sun covered at 2:35 p.m., sponsored by Penn State Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

University Park - Penn State's rooftop observatory on Davey Laboratory and H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens at intersection of Park Avenue and Bigler Road, 1:15-4 p.m., 80 percent of sun covered at 2:35 p.m., sponsored by Penn State Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Waynesboro - Renfrew Institute for Cultural and Environmental Studies,1010 E. Main St., noon-4 p.m.; Todd Toth, scientist with the NASA Goddard GLOBE Program at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Woodbury - Woodbury Public Library, 33 Delaware St., 1-4 p.m.; 856-845-2611.

Wyndmoor - Free Library of Springfield, 1200 E. Willow Grove Ave., 1-4 p.m.; 215-836-5300.

York - Consolidated School of Business, 1605 Clugston Road, 1-3 p.m., telescope with a monitor.

More about the total solar eclipse:

  • Pennsylvania guide to the solar eclipse August 21
  • What will we see in Pennsylvania during the 2017 solar eclipse?
  • Will we be able to see the solar eclipse?
  • Here's how the solar eclipse could damage your eyes
  • Vendors may be selling fake solar eclipse glasses
  • 15 things you don't know about solar eclipses

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