Tourists from around U.S. traveling to southern Indiana for total solar eclipse

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Thousands of people are arriving in southern Indiana on Sunday evening to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse on Monday afternoon.

A total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024. It will be the first since the Great American Eclipse in 2017 and the last until Aug. 2044.

The overall path for the total solar eclipse will go from Mexico, through the U.S. and into Canada. In the U.S., the path will go over starting in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Louisville will be at 99.3% totality, when the eclipse occurs between 1:49 p.m. and 3:07 p.m., but there are parts of southern Indiana that will be in 100% totality including Jasper, Paoli, and Seymour.

The majority of Seymour hotel rooms are booked as people from across the country have traveled to the path of totality. It's not an ordinary week in Seymour.

"I've never been a part of it, so I was anxious to come and see what that's about," said Carol Bedingfield, a woman from Marco Island, Florida.

A family came from the town of Louisville in Tennessee to Seymour to see the eclipse for themselves. They wanted their children to see 100% totality.

"We had one in Tennessee about six years ago," said Nicholas Fedlr. "And she was only one, that was around the other three weren't born yet. So it's fun to bring her up."

Chris Pickwell traveled hundreds of miles to see the eclipse. He then picked up his sister Carol in Tennessee.

"I made a reservation about a year ago," Chris Pickwell said. "Because I knew hotels would book and so we made one in Columbus. And I have a little airplane. So I flew up and picked her up on the way."

He watched the 2017 Eclipse.

"I thought it was impactful," Pickwell said. "It wasn't life changing, but it was very impactful. It was special."

January Rutherford with the City of Seymour said they've been preparing for this week for more than a year.

"It's an amazing opportunity for Seymour," Rutherford said. "This is only going to happen here in our lifetimes this one time. So we thought why not roll out the red carpet for people and welcome everybody here and say 'hey, see where it's a great place.'"

Seymour ordered more than 10,000 eclipse glasses last year.

The city is relying on dozens of volunteers, police officers and first responders to make sure it's a fun and safe experience for tourists.

"There's probably going to be times when you're gridlocked," Rutherford said. "Hopefully you've got some snacks or lots of bottled water. Patience is a virtue."

Seymour's public viewing areas including Freeman Municipal Airport, Freeman Field Recreation, Kasting Park and Crossroads Park. Public parking lots open at 9 a.m.

Even some locals are welcoming the families flocking to Indiana.

"I'm used to wanting to leave Indiana, so it's weird to see people coming to Indiana," Jovani Eita, who came down from Columbus, said.

City officials estimate Seymour will welcome more than 100,000 visitors to the area for the eclipse.

Eclipse coverage on WDRB:

You’ll be able to find all our Eclipse coverage on wdrb.com and some of that coverage involves you!

Do you have questions about the eclipse, how to watch safely, or how kids can participate? Send them to us! We will have a panel of experts answer your questions in one of our upcoming segments. You can send those to me on Facebook or X or you can email me: hstrong@wdrb.com

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