EID Eclipse initiatives support Downtown businesses and drive economic development
ANNOUNCEMENT – March 25, 2024: The Total Solar Eclipse is Monday, April 8, 2024. In coordination with this once-in-a-lifetime event, the Downtown Evansville Economic Improvement District (EID) is organizing special Eclipse-focused initiatives and a free community viewing event:
Giant Eclipse Glasses Photo Opportunities
In partnership with Astound Broadband, the EID is hosting a photo opportunity with giant Eclipse glasses on Friday, March 29, from 11 AM – 1 PM in front of the Innovation Pointe building at 318 Main Street. The glasses measure 7-feet-long and will be on display for guests to interact with and capture photos. The EID will be selling Eclipse glasses at a discounted rate of $2 each. Visitors can pick up an Eclipse Explorer Passport. The oversized Eclipse glasses will also be available for photo opportunities on April 8 at the EID’s event on Riverside Drive.
Eclipse Explorer Passport
Consumers have an added incentive for shopping and dining Downtown with the Eclipse Explorer Passport. When shoppers visit any of the 9 participating locations (Emerald Design, Grateful Threads Fabric & Furnishings, Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream, Memo, Posh on Main, River City Coffee + Goods, River Kitty Cat Café, Sixth + Zero, and Your Brother’s Bookstore), they will receive a stamp on their passport from that business. An additional stamp can be secured for a purchase at the business. Each stamp is one entry to win a gift card to a Downtown business. The more stamps a shopper receives on their passport, the more entries they will have to win gift cards. Passports have been distributed to each business and should be returned to any of the participating locations by 5 PM on Tuesday, April 9.
Glasses
Viewing the eclipse safely requires certified safe lenses. To date, the EID has sold more than 2,000 Eclipse-certified safe glasses. The glasses are International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certified, which represents the gold standard in certification. Made in the USA and trusted by NASA and the American Astronomical Society, the glasses are sponsored by Evansville Eyecare Associates, located along Main Street since 1958. Glasses are $3 each online and can be purchased from the EID Shopify store and shipped directly to consumers: https://downtown-evansville.myshopify.com/products/solar-eclipse-glasses
Total Solar Eclipse along Riverside Drive
On Monday, April 8, the EID is organizing a free community viewing event beginning at 11 AM. The event will feature sponsor booths and 7 food trucks along Riverside Drive (from Court to Walnut Street). Food trucks will include: Bruce Li, JB’s Barnyard, JT’s American on the Fly, Kona Ice, Lashbrooke’s BBQ, Rock-A-Burger, and Uncle G’s Lemon Smashers. Free activities will be featured at Riverside & Main, including face painting for children, photo points, and yard games. The main event, the Total Solar Eclipse, will happen at approximately 2 PM for three minutes.
The event is sponsored by Astound Broadband and Townsquare Media.
“Evansville will not experience another Total Solar Eclipse for 600+ years, so we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate Downtown. Events like the Total Solar Eclipse drive consumer spending at businesses, activate our neighborhood, and create special memories for our visitors,” said Adam Trinkel, EID Executive Director.
“Our businesses have embraced the Eclipse with themed offerings like Eclipse soap and a Solar Eclipse Sundae,” added Laura Gobert, EID Marketing & Events Coordinator. Gobert added, “Support local and shop and dine Downtown during this historic occasion.”
