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TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Thank you for joining us IN THE BEAUTIFUL MISSOURI OZARKS – come back anytime!

Total Solar Eclipse

WHY WEST PLAINS?

Springtime in the Ozarks. Four-day festival. Path of totality.

Come celebrate this astronomical occurrence with us! We have 4 days of festivities planned for Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path. With West Plains as your basecamp, you also can venture out to explore historic mills, crystal-clear springs, scenic byways, and miles of trails. In addition to festival events, you will find tons of local amenities.

For the most up-to-date schedule, please use the link at the top of the page to find our Party in the Path app which has complete festival information! The schedule below includes events which are sponsored by various organizations and businesses. Please click on links, as available, for additional information.

Big Spring Missouri

FRIDAY

04.05.2024

mapBudweiser Clydesdales
Stabled for Public Viewing

East Lawn of Civic Center
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

A Totality Cool Artist Reception
12-2 p.m.
Ozarks Small Business Incubator

7th Annual Show Me RC 100
1-9 p.m.
Triple H RC Raceway

Vinyl Night at

Wages Brewing Co.
5 p.m. 

Budweiser Clydesdale
One-Horse Show

For 38 Special/Ozark Mountain
Daredevils concert-goers
Civic Center, 5-7 p.m.

Concert @
West Plains Civic Center
38 Special and
Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Doors @ 6 p.m., concert @ 7 p.m.
Get tickets by calling the box
office, 417-256-8087, or
@ ticketmaster.com

Black Sky + Yellow House
Stand Up Comedy Show
@ The Yellow House
7 p.m.

Legit Eclipse Experience
@ Legit Speedway
7-11 p.m.

On your own April 2-9
Self-Guided Mural and
 History Tour

Self-guided Art Tour
“Total Eclipse & the Art”

 

SATURDAY

04.06.2024

5K Run @ Galloway Park
begins 8 a.m. – to benefit
Zizzer Cross Country and Track

Grizzly Classic Youth Baseball
Tournament – 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast
9-11 a.m. at Civic Center

Go Farm Farmers Market
9 a.m.-1 p.m. @ 805 Worley Drive

Pet Photos with an Alien

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
All Pet & Equine Supply

Budweiser Clydesdales
Stabled for Public Viewing

East Lawn of Civic Center
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunshine Festival
Vendor 
Booths, Music,
Beer Garden and
Food Truck Space
West Plains Civic Center
10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Music Schedule
at Sunshine Festival
Robin and Tony Logue
10-11 a.m.
Tara Nickole and Blayd Law
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Chasing the Apocalypse
1:30-3 p.m.
Native Souls – 3:30-5 p.m.

Also at Civic Center
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
DeLorean Time Machine from
Back to the Future

West Side Circle Drive
Journey Stagecoach
West Side Circle Drive
“Sky High: Eclipse & More”
Art Exhibit on 
Mezzanine
West Plains Model
Railroad Club Display

Redbud Room

Cosmic Carnival for Kids
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. @ Public Library
with nearby sensory-friendly
space sponsored by
 ASCEND at Missouri State
University-West Plains

Mural Painting Event for Children
in Library Community Room
10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

“Explore the Eclipse”
with Science Educator Donna
Callahan – Library Community
Room, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Solar Eclipse Paint Party
T-shirt and Totality Tote
Creative Discovery Center
Drago Hall
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Downtown Art Stroll
11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Black Sky + Yellow House
Music and Art Event
@ The Yellow House
Reading by
Author Marsha Thauwald

noon-2 p.m.
Live Painting and Art Show
2-5 p.m.
Music by John Depew
5-7 p.m.
Music by The Kursk
8-10 p.m.

Eclipse Jeep Show
West Plains Walmart
1-4 p.m.

 Duck Race
hosted by 
West Plains Optimists
People’s Park – 2:30 p.m.

7th Annual Show Me RC 100
1-9 p.m.
Triple H RC Raceway

Live Music – Justyn Moreland
Wages Brewing Co. – 7 p.m.

Legit Eclipse Experience
@ Legit Speedway
7-11 p.m.

Neon Parade
Downtown @ 7:30 p.m.
featuring the world-famous
Budweiser Clydesdales
& KY3 meteorologist
Brandon Beck – Grand Marshal

Nashville Showcase
Writers Round

KC’s Sports Bistro
8:30 p.m.

Path of the Moon Shadow
Live Music @ Below Grade
8:30 p.m.

The Rising Star Revue
Variety Show
Avenue Theatre
8:30 p.m.

On your own April 2-9
Self-Guided Mural and
 History Tour

Self-guided Art Tour
“Total Eclipse & the Art”

SUNDAY

04.07.2024

Dice Run to the Mills
begins in the morning
to benefit Christmas for Kids
and area veterans

Model Train Display
Civic Center Redbud Room
noon – 5 p.m.

Dodgeball Tournament
CASA Fundraiser
relocated to Genesis Church
2 p.m.

Meet-the-Artists
“Sky High: Eclipse and More”

2 to 4 p.m.
Civic Center Mezzanine
exhibit open noon-5

“West Plains: In the Beginning”
Traditional Ozarks Storyteller
Danette House
2 p.m.
Avenue Theatre

Heart of the Ozarks Fairgrounds
Fundraiser for the
Child Advocacy Center
Hot Air Balloon Glow
Includes live music featuring
Fender Bender & Ha Ha Tonka
Fireworks & Food Truck Space
SCHEDULE:
Gates open 4 p.m.
Music starts 5:30 p.m.
Balloon Glow at dusk (7:30)
Fireworks approx. 8:30 p.m.
Sensory friendly space
sponsored by
 ASCEND at Missouri State
University-West Plains
5:30-7:30


Black Sky + Yellow House
Molly Healey Live
“A Meal with Molly”

(limited seating)
@ The Yellow House
6-8 p.m.

Legit Eclipse Experience
@ Legit Speedway
7-11 p.m.

On your own April 2-9
Self-Guided Mural and
 History Tour

Self-guided Art Tour
“Total Eclipse & the Art”

MONDAY

04.08.2024

Eclipse Breakfast
8-10 a.m.
Colton’s Steak House & Grill

Dr. Bolaji Ogunwo Mural
Dedication
9 a.m.
@ West Plains Public Library

Food Truck Space
at two official viewing sites:
West Plains Civic Center
Heart of the Ozarks Fairgrounds
10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
 A partial eclipse is approximately
1.5 hours leading up to and
1.5 hours after totality and is
part of the “total” experience
worth seeing! 

19 City Parks offer Public
Spaces for Viewing

 
Presentation by MSU-Springfield
Astronomy Department

10-11 a.m.
Civic Center Theater

“Sky High: Eclipse & More”
Art Exhibit

Civic Center Mezzanine
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Total Eclipse of the Heart
Weddings

10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
East Lawn of the Civic Center

Model Train Display
Civic Center Redbud Room
10 – 3:30 p.m.

US Cellular Party with
Food, Giveaway & More

1725 Gibson Avenue
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Dawson Hollow Concert
noon – Civic Center

Eclipse 2024 Dark Side of OBC
1-5 p.m.
Ostermeier Brewing Company

I Got Totality Eclipsed
1-7 p.m.
Wages Brewing Co.

Total Solar Eclipse
@ 1:54 p.m.
Wherever you view the eclipse,
you are encouraged to arrive
early and linger after totality!

On your own April 2-9
Self-Guided Mural and
 History Tour

Self-guided Art Tour
“Total Eclipse & the Art”

 

sun with type

Click on links, as available, to see Facebook pages for additional details. More specifics and events will be posted as they are confirmed.

Eclipse Times for West Plains, Missouri
Start of Partial Eclipse: 12:37:30
Start of Total Eclipse: 1:54:34
Maximum Eclipse: 1:56:06
End of Total Eclipse: 1:57:38
End of Partial Eclipse: 3:13:50
Length of Totality: 3:04

To get the most out of the experience, we recommend arriving at your chosen destination at least 2 hours before totality.
The entire event will last about 2.5 hours.

court house-800

What is a Solar Eclipse?

“Total solar eclipse: A total solar eclipse is visible from a small area on Earth. The people who see the total eclipse are in the center of the Moon’s shadow when it hits Earth. The sky becomes very dark, as if it were night. For a total eclipse to occur, the Sun, Moon and Earth must be in a direct line.”

-Nasa.gov

ABOUT WEST PLAINS

Nestled in the beautiful Ozark hills, West Plains is the largest city within a 100-mile radius. It boasts of lodging, dining, and shopping conveniences of city-life while having the advantage of being close to the country. In just a very short drive, you can find yourself hiking in the Mark Twain National Forest, exploring one of ten historic water mills, kayaking or fishing crystal-clear spring-fed rivers and streams, or hunting the more than 63,000 wilderness acres of National forest.

Come experience West Plains for yourself. We think you will love it!

The Ozarks Logo

GETTING HERE

car75

Driving Distance from:

Springfield, MO (100 miles)
Branson, MO (125 miles)
St. Louis, MO (195 miles)
Kansas City, MO (275 miles)
Little Rock, AR (190 miles)
Memphis, TN (190 miles)
Birmingham, AL (425 miles)
Wichita, KS (350 miles)
Chicago, IL (500 miles)
Oklahoma City, OK (400 miles)
Dallas, TX (510 miles)
Atlanta, GA (570 miles)

plane75

Access to Airports:

West Plains, MO (9 miles)
   No commercial flights available
Springfield, MO (100 miles)
   Regional airport with commercial flights
Branson, MO (125 miles)
   Regional airport with commercial flights
St. Louis, MO (195 miles) 
   International airport with commercial flights
Kansas City, MO (275 miles)
   International airport with commercial flights
Little Rock, AR (190 miles)
   International airport with commercial flights
Memphis, TN (190 miles)
   International airport with commercial flights

JUST THE FACTS

Population
12,184 (2020)
Coordinates
36.7281° N 91.8524° W
Total area
13.29 sq. miles
First settled
1838

Thank you to our sponsors

great rivers300
West Plains Dental Group New Logo
midway-towing-logo-lightbg
ozarks 2
megasports
hirschs
coltons

Lazy W Pallets
Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce
Mac Industries
Southern Bank

Wood & Huston
Matt Roberts for Sheriff
Taylor Grubaugh Chevrolet
West Plains Propane

West Plains Bank
Bartlett Moving & Storage
Turner Law Firm
Pine Meadows
Ramona Heiney-State Farm

LINKS

Neon Parade, Saturday, April 6, 7:30 p.m., entry form here
Notes for Local Folks, suggestions for the days up to and including the eclipse here
Preparing for the Eclipse for Businesses here
Proper Use of Solar Glasses here