Party features prime viewing of the Great North American Eclipse,
the world’s largest edible moon pie, live music, food trucks and fun on Lake Carolyn
IRVING, TX (March 4, 2024) – Looking for a Great North American Eclipse party to eclipse all the rest? Look no further than Irving, Texas. The city sits squarely on the path of totality, enjoys a viewing-friendly climate, and is planning a party on the ground like no other – Total Eclipse in the Park.
Located just outside of Dallas and right next door to DFW International Airport, Irving is one of the few cities in Texas and the nation that will experience nearly four minutes of “totality,” or complete darkening of the sky as the moon passes over the sun on April 8. With Total Eclipse in the Park, the city is throwing a pre-, during-, and after party worthy of a once-in-a-lifetime celestial phenomenon.
Total Eclipse in the Park will take place from 12 – 3 p.m. in two locations -- Levy Event Plaza (501 E. Las Colinas Blvd.) on the shores of Irving’s Lake Carolyn in the Las Colinas Urban Center, and Heritage Park.
At Levy Plaza in Las Colinas, party-goers can don a pair of complimentary eclipse glasses (required for viewing) and enjoy a slice of the world’s largest edible moon pie made from scratch by Eduardo Alvarez, Executive Chef at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas. This moon pie is five feet in diameter, weighs 150-180 pounds and contains 356,042 calories. With 1,400 servings, that’s approximately 260 calories per serving.
Guests can also rock out to live music by Vegas Stars, make sunflower crowns, take selfies at special stations, get “moon” butt sketches, enjoy lawn games, and visit the Celestial Sparkle Bar. It’s all free, but attendees must pre-register for on eventbrite.com.
Additional perks for purchase at Levy Plaza include out-of-this-world food truck fare, cosmic cocktails, pedal boat rides, and the chance to take in the eclipse from the water on an authentic Venetian gondola cruise, one of Irving’s signature attractions. One-hour gondola cruises during totality must be reserved in advance through Gondola Adventures at 855-466-3652 or irving@gondola.com. Totality Cruises will be available for booking from 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. with rates starting at $225 for two, including eclipse glasses, beverages, and chocolates.
Additional gondola cruises and pedal boat rentals will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Gondola Adventures water activities booth at Levy Plaza. Each cruise will be approximately 20 minutes and $10 per person. Weather permitting, pedal boats, including swan and duck boats, may be rented for $40 per boat for 25 minutes. Payments on-site via Venmo, Zelle, or cash. And for those who want to add to the adventure, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available at the SUP Shack (113 Las Colinas Blvd.; 972-567-7871) located near the Omni Las Colinas.
The Heritage Park event, which is also free but requires no pre-registration, will have a DJ, selfie stations, food trucks, free eclipse glasses, and family-friendly activities.
The partial eclipse will begin at 12:23 p.m. on April 8, with totality occurring between 1:40 and 1:44 p.m. The partial eclipse will end at 3:02 p.m.
Visitors are encouraged to make a long weekend of it all, and to that end, there are a few remaining rooms at several Irving hotels, including the Westin Irving Convention Center Las Colinas – located near Levy Plaza - which is offering an “Eclipse Retreat” that includes eclipse glasses and special eclipse themed amenities. And on Saturday, April 6, The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory will present the Black Crowes “Happiness Bastards” tour.
For further information on eclipse lodging, parking, and related events, please visit irvingtexas.com/eclipse. ###