ARE GETTING READY FOR THE MOON OVER MAIN FESTIVAL THAT’S IN DOWNTOWN RUSSELLVILLE. <> “This will be one of the main locations for the moon over main four-day festival here in downtown Russellville. There’ll be live music, the mayor says there’ll be large LCD screens setup throughout downtown to watch the Eclipse and it’s also where NASA will be set up giving special presentations all for free.” <> “We kind of feel like we’re the epicenter of the eclipse because we will have NASA nearby, we’re within walking distance to a lot of amenities here in Russellville.” THE SIGNS ARE UP IN DOWNTOWN RUSSELLVILLE, LETTING EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT THE APRIL 8TH TOTAL ECLIPSE. IT’S WHERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL GATHER FOR THE FOUR-DAY “MOON ON MAIN” FESTIVAL. (BRETT SAYS TO DANIELLE – “You’re expecting the population here in Russellville to more than double for the eclipse.”) <> “we’ve actually been told to expect about 90,000 people. We’ve never had an event this big, we probably never will after that.” DANIELLE HOUSENIC IS THE MAIN STREET RUSSELLVILLE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. SHE SAYS LOCAL BUSINESSES COULD HAVE THE MOST CUSTOMERS THEY’VE EVER EXPERIENCED. <> “All the businesses down here are small businesses, usually family owned, so this is a challenge for them, but it’s also a really cool opportunity to show off what they’ve got.” <> “It’s a little overwhelming to think of that and so you know, we’re doing the best we can to be prepared and then we’ll just live through it and hopefully it will end up being very successful.” (NATS…GRINDING COFFEE BEANS, PUTTING THEM IN ESPRESSO MACHINE, BREWING COFFEE) PAT YOUNG IS THE OWNER OF RETRO ROAST COFFEE AND THE BOOK STORE IN DOWNTOWN RUSSELLVILLE. RIGHT NOW CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY RIGHT OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR, BUT WHEN FINISHED, THERE SHOULD BE A BRAND NEW SIDEWALK JUST IN TIME FOR THE ECLIPSE. YOUNG SAYS THEY’LL BE FULLY STAFFED, (NATS…GRINDING ICE ) MAKING AS MANY SPECIALTY DRINKS AS THEY CAN AND THAT’S NOT ALL. <> “We’ve got books, children’s books on eclipses and we’re going to have the glasses, eclipse glasses and T shirts and magnets. And so we’re looking at merchandising like that. We’re also going to have a great multi author event here, the Sunday of that weekend, which we’re excited about. It’s called Get Lit in the dark, get literature in the dark.” <> “We’re we’re getting excited what’s going to happen in downtown.” JOHNNY KONUK OWNS THE BANK DEPOT SPORTS GRILL. LIKE MOST DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, HE’S BEEN DOING A LOT OF PLANNING. <> “first of all, we’re talking with our staff about transportation and getting to work. We have designated parking spots for our staff and we’re trying to run shuttles from those spots.” <> “we’re looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity.” <> “We have to be successful to keep the reputation of Russellville, we want everyone to come to Russellville and downtown Russellville is phenomenal, over 200 years of history, enjoy their time enjoy our food, enjoy our experience that we’re
Russellville, Arkansas considered one of the top places in the world for the 2024 eclipse
Arkansas Eclipse Guide | Eclipse Weather | Map & Table of Eclipse Times | Eclipse Events | Traffic Preps | School Closings | Getting Glasses | Glasses Safety | Eclipse ScienceThe April solar eclipse will bring totality to a cross section of Arkansas. And there will be a influx of people to the state to witness it. “Well, I think at the first governors’ conference when I heard about this around two years ago, they told me I would possibly need to put Porta Potties on the interstate,” said Christie Graham, Russellville Executive Director of Tourism. “That kind of caught me and I was like, really, really? But they were serious.”Russellville leaders have been planning for years for the eclipse. The city was ranked by astromony.com as one of the top 10 places to view the eclipse.”And if you take the top four are in Mexico, that really bumps us up on that list,” Graham said.There will be festivals and events around the area leading up to the eclipse. One of those events is the Total Eclipse of the Heart festival. Couples wanting to tie the knot under the eclipse will just need show up.”We are making this totally free for the couples, the ceremony, the reception live music, wedding cake, drinks to toast with. There’ll be photographers there, everything you need,”said Rodney Williams, festival organizer.The Mayor of Russellville is looking at the event from a safety aspect.”We’re going to have NASA here, we’re going to have the Weather Channel here,” said Mayor Fred Teague. “When you bring more people in, cardiacs and car wrecks are two things that are going to increase. That’s the reality of it.”Russellville will have first responders staffed for the eclipse in case the worst should happen.”It’s going to be a lot like a concert or a ballgame. They’re going to trickle in, but then when the lights turn back on, that’s when everybody’s going to want to leave,” Teague said.
Arkansas Eclipse Guide | Eclipse Weather | Map & Table of Eclipse Times | Eclipse Events | Traffic Preps | School Closings | Getting Glasses | Glasses Safety | Eclipse Science
The April solar eclipse will bring totality to a cross section of Arkansas. And there will be a influx of people to the state to witness it.
“Well, I think at the first governors’ conference when I heard about this around two years ago, they told me I would possibly need to put Porta Potties on the interstate,” said Christie Graham, Russellville Executive Director of Tourism. “That kind of caught me and I was like, really, really? But they were serious.”
Russellville leaders have been planning for years for the eclipse. The city was ranked by astromony.com as one of the top 10 places to view the eclipse.
“And if you take the top four are in Mexico, that really bumps us up on that list,” Graham said.
There will be festivals and events around the area leading up to the eclipse. One of those events is the Total Eclipse of the Heart festival. Couples wanting to tie the knot under the eclipse will just need show up.
“We are making this totally free for the couples, the ceremony, the reception live music, wedding cake, drinks to toast with. There’ll be photographers there, everything you need,”said Rodney Williams, festival organizer.
The Mayor of Russellville is looking at the event from a safety aspect.
“We’re going to have NASA here, we’re going to have the Weather Channel here,” said Mayor Fred Teague. “When you bring more people in, cardiacs and car wrecks are two things that are going to increase. That’s the reality of it.”
Russellville will have first responders staffed for the eclipse in case the worst should happen.
“It’s going to be a lot like a concert or a ballgame. They’re going to trickle in, but then when the lights turn back on, that’s when everybody’s going to want to leave,” Teague said.
