Party in the Path: City task force developing solar eclipse festival

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will trace a narrow path of totality across 13 U.S. states. Included in the path of totality is the City of West Plains, which will seek to commemorate the rare occurrence through a four-day festival called “Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path.” 

The festival is being organized through a community task force spearheaded by the City’s Tourism Department. This task force will develop a schedule of events and activities built around the eclipse, with similar festivals proving to be very popular in 2017.

“This is a very exciting time for West Plains to have the opportunity to see a natural phenomenon while hosting many visitors from across the Midwest,” said West Plains Tourism Director Melissa Wharton. “It’s our time to show off this beautiful area in which we live. I am on the state-wide task force for the solar eclipse where I am learning best practices from the Missouri cities that were in the path of totality in 2017.” 

The eclipse will begin in West Plains at 1:54:28 p.m. and last for approximately three minutes. Total solar eclipses happen when the New Moon comes between the Sun and Earth and casts the darkest part of its shadow, the umbra, on Earth.