Happy New Year! 2024 has arrived and with it are plenty of excited eclipse chasers! Those planning to travel to view the 2024 Great North American Total Solar Eclipse is being predicted to outnumber those who traveled to the path in 2017.
In 2017, Perry County welcomed over 17,800 visitors and we are making plans to do it all over again on April 8, 2024! Eclipse chasers from thirty-six states and seventeen countries were documented to have come to Perryville to experience totality in 2017. This time around along with three public viewing areas we also have several privately owned businesses or residents making room for eclipse visitors as well. Our public viewing areas will be the Bank of Missouri Soccer Complex, the Perryville City Park, and the Perryville Regional Airport that will be promoted as a fly-in destination catering to pilots as they done in 2017. Hemman’s Winery will have an area for eclipse viewing as well as special wine releases that weekend, and the Lutheran Heritage Center in Altenburg will be hosting science students. Hollandale Acres will have special campsite arrangements along with live music and food trucks and visitors will also be welcomed to sit on the bank of the Apple Creek at the historic Old Appleton Bridge Park.
Special attractions for the eclipse weekend will include bringing back the popular Sky Dome Planetarium. There will be five 45-minute shows at the Perry Park Center featuring a journey through the universe featuring a “star filled” sky of the Northern Hemisphere. This was a sold-out event in 2017 and tickets will go on sale closer to the event. Solarfest’s live music will fill the downtown plaza as we kick off our April Cruise-In by Bat Out of Hell, a Meatloaf tribute band followed by Big Love, a Fleatwood Mac tribute band for all to enjoy along with some new things. The Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial will host a hot air balloon show/glow sponsored by the Bank of Missouri. Come learn more about hot air balloons from their pilots and crew. Barbara Fricke, a native of Perry County and renowned gas and hot air balloon pilot will be among those in attendance. Barb and her husband, Peter Cuneo both accomplished pilots have a very impressive ballooning resume including four wins in the America’s Challenge long-distance gas balloon race, and third – and fourth- place finishes in previous Gordon Bennett Competitions known internationally. Two new dance crazes coming to the downtown will be a Silent Disco and an Eclipse Foam Party both hosted at the Warehouse Entertainment District. Jump into the fun and into several feet of bubbles at the Foam Party or rock one of the three hundred pairs of Discglow wireless headphones to your favorite tunes with lights and glow swag. Also, back by popular demand will be the 5K Glow Run/Walk hosted by the Perryville Optimist as they light up the streets of Perryville. A full event itinerary with locations, dates and times will be published soon.
For more information, eclipse glasses, eclipse planning, or event scheduling please contact the Perry County Heritage Tourism at 573-517-2069 or trish@perryvillemo.com. Start making your plans now!