Solar Eclipse 2024: Events in Columbus, Hope, Taylorsville, Edinburgh & Surrounding Bartholomew County

Remember you can find exact eclipse and totality timing by going to this map and clicking on the precise location you'll be at for the eclipse.

See here for my other town event guides and here for my general eclipse guide post. I'm also planning on making a few other Columbus-centric guides/recommendations specific for the eclipse, and I'll link to those here when they are done.

I will try to keep this updated to the best of my ability. Please let me know of anything you know about and I'll add it to the list.
Last updated January 31, 2024 3:34pm

Columbus 

Totality: 3 minutes 44 seconds in downtown Columbus. More time (by 5ish seconds) on the west and north sides, less time on the east and south sides.

Population: 50,000

Here is the City of Columbus' Eclipse Website, which includes an events calendar on this page (scroll down): Columbus, IN Eclipse

All Week // Mon, Apr 1 - Mon, Apr 8

• 10am-1pm, 2-5pm at kidscommons, cost depends: Solar Eclipse at kidscommons - Enjoy various programming, including astronomy experts (April 6-8), who will teach visitors about what occurs during an eclipse and explain the importance of safety precautions during an eclipse. Hours: 10 am to 1 pm, 2 to 5 pm.

Kidscommons is across the street from The Commons, prominently downtown. Street parking and downtown garage parking are available. This is a neat interactive museum (famous for its giant toilet you can slide down). This is one of the only truly kid-centric places in town (another is the free indoor playground across the street in The Commons) so it is likely to be very, very busy.

• Times vary at Hamilton Ice Center, cost depends, not eclipse related: Public Skate 

In case you need something else to do, here are public ice skating times and dates for this week. The ice center is architecturally interesting with a fantastic fireplace, if you just want to go check it out.

All Weekend // Fri, Apr 5 - Mon, Apr 8

• Ceraland is having events all weekend long (I'll put specifics below for their Eclipse Watch Party at CERA) as well as offering RV and tent camp sites and cabins, and they still have quite a bit of availability. They are offering live music, games, food, and drinks. Cost for entry is $10/vehicle.

Ceraland is a large sports park and campground on the east side of Columbus. They should be able to handle this kind of event very well as they do big events frequently, and they are currently the only fireworks show I know of happening this weekend. 

• The Bartholomew County Public Library is planning programming at the library (Solar Eclipse at the Library). Here's the library's event page and Facebook page. They have bought at least 14,000 eclipse glasses to use during the programming, so if you didn't get your classes in time, this might be a good place to go. They put on many great events. The library is downtown with street parking and its own large parking lot (though I'm sure it will fill up immediately), shared with the visitor's center. It is architecturally significant and is surrounded by other architecturally significant buildings and art, so this would be a pretty neat place to watch from.
  
  
• The Columbus Downtown Merchants group is planning Total Solarbration for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Events should include live entertainment, space themed movies at YES Cinema, downtown scavenger hunt, and more. I will share more information as I get it, but it sounds like a lot of very fun things will be happening over the weekend. This will be throughout downtown Columbus. Street parking and a garage parking lot will be available.

Thursday, April 4th

• 7:30-9:30pm at The Commons, cost depends, not eclipse related: Cabaret at the Commons with Tony DeSare - Tony DeSare performs with infectious joy, wry playfulness and robust musicality. Named Rising Star Male Vocalist in Downbeat magazine. From jazz clubs to Carnegie Hall to Las Vegas and headlining major symphony orchestras, DeSare has brought his fresh take on old school class around the globe. DeSare has four top ten Billboard jazz albums under his belt and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, NPR, A Prairie Home Companion, the Today Show and his music has been posted by social media celebrity juggernaut, George Takei. DeSare has also collaborated with Youtube supergroup Postmodern Jukebox.

There are still tickets available, and single seat tickets go on sale Feb 5! The Cabaret series seems to be extremely good and this artist in particular should be a great show.

Friday, April 5th

• 5:30pm at The Commons, free, not eclipse related: First Fridays for Families - Alice in Wonderland - Let the power of dance transport you to a captivating world filled with curious characters, fantastical creatures, and surreal adventures in this timeless classic. First Fridays For Families is a FREE family program that introduces young audiences to a wide variety of performing arts in a fun and informal setting. https://www.artsincolumbus.org/first-fridays
  
  
• 7-10pm at Ceraland's the Landing, $10/vehicle entry fee: Green Timber

Saturday, April 6th

• 9am-5pm at Moravec Hall at Ivy Tech Columbus, free: Comic-Con: Eclipse and All Things Science Fiction - University Library of Ivy Tech Columbus invites you to the 8th Annual Comic-Con! It is free and open to the public. The theme will focus on the eclipse and all things science fiction. A guest speaker will hold a discussion on the science of the eclipse. There will be food trucks and vendors and a cosplay competition with a prize for the winner.

Ivy Tech Columbus has hosted a Comic-Con for several years on this weekend in April. Their campus is on the north side of Columbus near the airport and soccer fields. There are large parking lots available on campus.

• 6-9pm at Hog Molly Brewing Company, free, not eclipse related: Timothy Scott
  

Hog Molly is on the north side of town off of US-31. It has a decent size parking lot, a covered outdoor patio, and some inside seating. You might want to bring your own chairs if you can as there's not a ton of seating, honestly. They have good, creative beer and usually there is a food truck available here on Saturdays. They are family friendly till 8pm.

• 7-10pm at Ceraland's the Landing, $10/vehicle entry fee: The  DuVenkey Code 
  
  
• 9pm at Ziggies, unknown cost, not eclipse related: Paradise City

Sunday, April 7th

• 10am-5pm at Columbus Municipal Airport, cost depends: Huey Flights (Facebook page for Columbus Huey here, though this event is not listed yet)- Take a ride in the iconic Bell UH1 (HUEY) helicopter! Membership* - $100 per adult, $50 12 and under, WWII & Korean veterans free * Membership includes one free helicopter ride

Columbus Municipal Airport has a free parking lot and an excellent restaurant, Blackerby's Hanger 5 (open 7am-2pm). There is also a very good free museum onsite, Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum, that if open is worth a visit.

• 2:00pm at The Commons, free: Shelby Community Band presents Total From the Earth to the Moon (Facebook event link here) - Join the Shelby Community Band as we celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse with our free spring concert, "From the Earth to the Moon." You can expect some out of this world music, including a medley of Star Wars, Star Trek, The Planets, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, Van Morrison's Moondance, the music of Doctor Who, and the special world premiere of Peter Felice's Totality (written to commemorate the first total solar eclipse in 800 years!). This event will be a great way to lead into Monday's eclipse.

The Commons is a building in downtown Columbus. There is free street parking and a downtown garage. There are many great restaurants and other local businesses to check out while you are downtown (I will make a roundup soon). There is a large indoor free playground here as well.

• Time unknown at Hotel Indigo, cost unknown: Pre-Eclipse Party - Enjoy food trucks, games, and more. Local bands will be playing, with Cottonpatch headlining the event.  More Info to Come.

This is the only true hotel downtown and it surprisingly still has some available throughout the weekend. It is a nice hotel and fully embraces the Columbus community scene (it would be an incredible place to stay if you wanted to be downtown, because you could walk everywhere). They have their own large parking lot. Here is their Facebook page as well.

• 7-10pm at Ceraland's the Landing, $10/vehicle entry fee: John Ryan
  
  
• 7-10pm at Ceraland, $10/vehicle entry fee: Fireworks Show
  
  
• 8:30pm at Mill Race Park, cost unknown: Total Eclipse of the Parks 5Ks - Participate in this fun and unique 5K while experiencing the vibrant People Trail Network. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in one 5K as the sun goes down Sunday evening (8:30 pm) and another as the sun rises on Monday (8:00 am). If both 5Ks are completed, the participant will receive a commemorative interlocking medal. More Info to Come.

This is a cool idea. Mill Race Park is the largest park in town (and architecturally significant) and the People Trail runs right through it. It is downtown Columbus. There is surprisingly little parking space here, however. There are three useful lots but they only hold maybe 50 cars tops, each, and then there are small 5-10 car parking pull offs throughout the park. The Mill Race Center (senior center) is next door with a large lot. You will likely have to park downtown or ask someone to drop you off/pick you up if you don't want to walk all the way there (it could be a quarter, half, or more than a mile depending on where you start from downtown).

Monday, April 8th (ECLIPSE DAY)

• 8am at Mill Race Park, cost unknown: Total Eclipse of the Parks 5Ks - Participate in this fun and unique 5K while experiencing the vibrant People Trail Network. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in one 5K as the sun goes down Sunday evening (8:30 pm) and another as the sun rises on Monday (8:00 am). If both 5Ks are completed, the participant will receive a commemorative interlocking medal. More Info to Come.

This is a cool idea. Mill Race Park is the largest park in town (and architecturally significant) and the People Trail runs right through it. It is downtown Columbus. There is surprisingly little parking space here, however. There are three useful lots but they only hold maybe 50 cars tops, each, and then there are small 5-10 car parking pull offs throughout the park. The Mill Race Center (senior center) is next door with a large lot. You will likely have to park downtown or ask someone to drop you off/pick you up if you don't want to walk all the way there (it could be a quarter, half, or more than a mile depending on where you start from downtown). I do think even by 8am it will be hard to find parking.

• 11am onward at 450 North Brewing Company, free parking & camping: 450 North Solarbration (Facebook event link here) - Hang out at our viewing party as we sit in the path of totality for the solar eclipse...Food Trucks, Live Music, Special Beer Release! FREE Parking, FREE Camping - With open fields all around us and enough parking spaces for hundreds of vehicles, 450 North Solarbration will be the place to be.

We are big fans of 450 North's beer, food, and space. They are well equipped to hold enormous events (they do a massive beer festival every year in their corn fields). This should be a good time, though it is likely to be very crowded. There is plenty of parking space. Free camping for the eclipse is almost unheard of, so if you need a last minute place to go, this would be a good choice. 450 North is on the east/northeast side of town (on the way out to Hope) and is in the middle of nowhere. There is a spot on a bridge over a water crossing on 450 N. that is literally one car at a time and is hard to see to the other side of the bridge. The road is just one lane each way otherwise. Be careful!

• 11am-5pm at Columbus Municipal Airport, unknown cost: Eclipse Cup (Facebook event link here) - Imagine a grand medieval-style tournament where armored warriors engage in epic battles amidst the awe-inspiring backdrop of a solar eclipse. It's a thrilling fusion of Medieval Combat and celestial wonder. Brave knights clash showcasing their skills and valor while the sun and moon align overhead. It's an extraordinary experience that combines the thrill of battle with the majesty of the heavens.

This appears to be part of the Eclipsing the Renaissance event below, but I don't know why they list different times and place names.

• 12pm-4:30pm at AirPark Columbus, unknown cost: Eclipsing the Renaissance (Facebook event link here) - Enjoy a full afternoon of fun and excitement with performers, vendors, and activities! The Cincinnati Circus Fire Performers are coming to ignite the event - the Fire Performers have been perfecting their craft for years and have acts that you will see no where else on the planet. Acts include fire jugglers, fire hula hoopers, fire eaters, fire twirlers, fire dancers, fire poi, and much more. Prepare your best Renaissance Faire outfits and stay tuned as more information will be shared before April 8th.

From the Facebook event, there should be giant bubble performers, hand-forged knives, woodworking, soaps, and other crafts, henna art, the Cincinnati Circus Company performers, a show for kids from Sprout the Fae of Seeds, a performance from Southern Indiana Taiko drummers, a show from a Renaissance-style armored combat team, axe throwing, archery, a falconer, and food vendors DonutNV (donuts, lemonade, coffee), Antojitos Rosita (Mexican food), and Pakalana's Poke Wagon (Hawaiian food).

AirPark Columbus and the Columbus Municipal Airport are both the Columbus Airport. This is on the north side of town. There is a large parking lot (free parking) and usually for big events they have people park in the grass as well. I have no idea what further overflow parking looks like, but I think this event will be a huge draw because of all the cool stuff going on in one place. If Blackerby's Hanger 5 restaurant in the airport is open (open 7am-2pm normally), it offers some of the best food in town (know that they will likely be overwhelmed if they are open, please be patient). There is also a very good museum onsite, Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum, that if open is worth a visit.

• 7-10pm at Ceraland's the Landing, $10/vehicle entry fee: John & Jessie

Hope

Totality: 3 minutes 46 seconds in Hope town square

Population: 2100

All Weekend // Sat, Apr 6 - Mon, Apr 8

• In the Surprising Town of Hope: Total Eclipse of the HOPE - Total Eclipse of the HOPE is a 3-day festival being held in the surprising Town of Hope, Indiana, Saturday, April 6, through Monday, April 8, 2024. Total Eclipse of the HOPE will include art and science projects, games, live entertainment (including a variety of bands), and food and merchandise vendors. Local businesses will have extended hours for dining and shopping. Join us for Total Eclipse of the HOPE, a lively and engaging event to celebrate Hope lying in the path of totality. Enjoy warm hospitality and live entertainment, art projects, science projects, games, dining, shopping, and tours of our local museum. During this event, Main Street of HOPE is offering RV/Camper sites so you can avoid traffic and stay close to the event site to enjoy all aspects of the festival. Stay 1 to 3 nights at primitive sites with portalets and washing stations. Total Eclipse of the HOPE will be a fun, educational, and inclusive festival to celebrate this total solar eclipse. We can hardly wait for this astronomical event to occur so you can experience our welcoming community of Hope, Indiana.

Hope received a micro grant to put on this eclipse festival.
We enjoy going over to Hope. It is a very small town with a nice downtown area in a square surrounding a good size playground. Hope hosts extremely large events during the year (the largest being Hope Heritage Days in Sept, which attracts around 25,000 visitors over that weekend). That said, you will have to find street parking and be prepared to walk some distance from your car to downtown. 

• 8pm-11pm at White Diamond Lavender Farms, $10/$15/$120 depending: Lunar Fest - Begin this unforgettable pre-eclipse themed weekend by arriving early to get your seat or better yet, reserve a table in advance with your friends. Grab some tacos from the TaColumbus food truck and a drink from White Diamond bar and settle in for some lively entertainment. Come jam with Madison’s premier party band, Rusty Bladen and the Livin’ Daylights at Lunar Fest! With 9 albums released and music in the MGM Major Motion Picture, “Madison,” this band knows how to entertain a crowd and get a party going with original music and well known cover songs. It’s a guaranteed good time! Show starts at 8:00pm. Doors open at 7:00pm. Tickets here.

This will probably be the best smelling event ;) I had no idea we had a lavender farm in town!

Taylorsville

Totality: 3 minutes 54 seconds if watching from the Premium Outlet Mall

I haven't seen anything specifically for Taylorsville. Let me know if you know of something!

Edinburgh

Edinburgh totality: 3 minutes 59 seconds if watching from the high school 

Population: 4400

Edinburgh Eclipse Website

Edinburgh (pronounced the Indiana way, eh-din-burg, not the Scottish way) is technically in Bartholomew, Johnson, and Shelby counties, but I'm going to count it here.

Monday, April 8th (ECLIPSE DAY)

• 12pm onward at the Drybread Community Center, free: Edinburgh Eclipse - Experience the Eclipse in Edinburgh! Mark your calendars for Monday, April 8, 2024 to be downtown Edinburgh as we take our "Total Eclipse of the Art" theme to the streets! When the solar eclipse occurs in 2024, Edinburgh, Indiana, will be in the middle of the path of totality! Join us to experience more than two and a half hours of the eclipse, including nearly four minutes of totality. The eclipse is from 1:50 p.m. to 4:23 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 2024, with totality from approximately 3:06 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.
  

Edinburgh received a micro grant to put on this eclipse festival. I actually somehow have never been downtown Edinburgh, but it seems to be experiencing some good traction and I hope this helps accelerate that.

• 12pm-5pm at the Historic Henry Breeding Farm, unknown cost: Total Eclipse of the Farm - Featuring "Eclipsarmonia: A Historic Spectacle" with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic! The 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. Local brewer Hog Molly is releasing a special celestial, sparkling beer that will be available for sale, and food trucks will provide a variety of offerings throughout the event.

I have not personally been to the Breeding Farm but this should be a very good event. The Philharmonic is fantastic. Hog Molly is a good, pretty creative brewery here in town.

• 12pm-6pm at Jenkins Forever Farm, cost depends: Total Eclipse of the Farm (Facebook event link here) - Looking for a place to experience the Total Solar Eclipse? Look no further! Jenkins Forever Farm is excited to announce the Total Eclipse of the Farm Event! Jenkins Forever Farm is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal sanctuary in Edinburgh, IN and is home to over 100 animals spanning 15 different species. Two years ago, the founder and her husband purchased an additional 7 acres to expand the sanctuary and provide more pasture space for the current residents. While this property seemed like a dream come true, obtaining it was just the first of many steps. The property is raw land and needs power, a well, fencing and shelters in order to be able to utilize it. We would absolutely love to raise the funds needed to develop this expansion project and provide the best forever home possible for our 11 alpacas, 6 sheep, 38 ducks and 11 geese through this one of a kind fundraising event. One of the most exciting pieces of this event is that it's being held on the very property we're fundraising for!

I don't know anything about this place, but they are offering lots of events. You should look at the event page to see everything being offered (it was quite long to just copy/paste here).

One note: a LOT of places are having events called "Total Eclipse of the Farm" all throughout the totality path (or something very similar). Obviously for us, there are TWO events called this in the same town! Please double check that you are looking at the event you mean to be.

Other Bartholomew County

Population of all Bartholomew County: 83,000

Most of Weekend // Sat, Apr 6 - Mon, Apr 8

• Sat 2pm until Mon 4pm at Faewood Grove, $30/adult, under 16 free: Faelipse - Come watch the eclipse with us! Early Spring camping fundraiser! We will have a ritual during the peak as well as fires, performers, and drumming all weekend long. $30 per adult, kids under 16 free. No tickets exist, you must register via the google form https://forms.gle/KzoWDUeeHuh4jmiD7.

I do not know anything here to provide insights. It is on the far side of Bartholomew County and they consider themselves in Brown County even though they have a Columbus address, but I'm listing them here.