Sioux Falls, SD — For the first time since 2017, a total solar eclipse will grace the skies on Monday, April 8. While Sioux Falls may not offer the prime outdoor viewing location, the region still has an incredible opportunity to celebrate and witness this celestial rarity at two upcoming events at the Washington Pavilion.
“We are so excited to leverage our state-of-the-art planetarium technology to offer incredible opportunities to learn about and witness the upcoming eclipse,” says Madelyn Grogan, Director of Museums and Education at the Washington Pavilion. “It’s astronomical events like this that truly highlight the capabilities of our facility, offering our community the chance to experience these celestial phenomena without having to leave the state.”
Total Solar Eclipse Celebration on April 6 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.:
Ahead of the main event, the Washington Pavilion will host a pre-total solar eclipse celebration featuring fun activities in the Kirby Science Discovery Center and Visuals Arts Center and a captivating film showing in the Wells Fargo CineDome & Sweetman Planetarium. The celebration will include:
- Showings of a new, immersive film, “Totality” at noon and 4 p.m.
- Build your own solar eclipse viewer activity
- Additional solar eclipse activities in Raven Children’s Studio
- Quick, fresh and tasty meals available for purchase in The WP
- Gourmet ice cream, fresh popcorn, candy and cold beverages available for purchase at Parlour
Experience the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8 from 12–3 p.m.:
Witness the total solar eclipse from the best place in South Dakota to see it. This exciting event will unfold in the Wells Fargo CineDome & Sweetman Planetarium and will include:
- Showing of “Totality” at 12:15 p.m.
- Live total eclipse streaming beginning at 12:45 p.m. with complete visibility at 1:30 p.m.
- Gourmet ice cream, fresh popcorn, candy and cold beverages available for purchase at Parlour
The next total solar eclipse visible from the United States will not occur until 2044, so you won’t want to miss this one! Tickets for each event are on sale now. To learn more and reserve your tickets today, visit WashingtonPavilion.org.
About Washington Pavilion Management, Inc. (WPMI)
Washington Pavilion Management, Inc. is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the largest arts organization in the state. The management company oversees and programs two historic City of Sioux Falls facilities: the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science and the Orpheum Theater Center. The company also provides professional management services, including administration, arts, science and educational programming; ticketing; event management; marketing; and more to other arts and nonprofit organizations. For information, please visit WashingtonPavilion.org.