April 2, 2024 Press Release from the Delphos Canal Commission: There’s a total solar eclipse coming to Delphos and with it comes a weekend of celestial celebrations.
Eclipse Weekend kicks off on Friday night, April 5, with the Delphos Canal Museum hosting a Night At The Museum. Guests are invited to dress in their finest vintage clothing and enjoy an evening touring the Museum. Tickets are only $25 per person for this 21 and over event and include drinks and hors d’oeuvres. There will be two, yes two, photos booths to commemorate your visit, an awesome door prize and lots of fun. Committee chair Kelly North notes “This is a perfect opportunity to see if the exhibits come to life after hours. Come see why we’re proud of our history and showing it.” To make your reservations stop by the Museum every Thursday 9-noon or Saturday and Sunday 1-3pm or call 419-204-6514.
The Delphos Canal Museum in downtown Delphos, your 2024 Eclipse Headquarters, will be open on Saturday and Sunday from Noon-6:00pm each day. Monday we’ll open the doors at 9:00am. We’ll close at Noon so we can enjoy the Eclipse and then open again from 4:30-6:00pm. Stop in to check out our fabulous Museum including the only Leslie Peltier exhibit on the planet. And don’t forget we are Delphos’ 2024 Total Solar Eclipse souvenir headquarters. Grab some of our limited edition 2024 Total Solar Eclipse merchandise to commemorate this once in a lifetime event and your visit to the Delphos Canal Museum.
The Delphos Knights of Columbus Hall is offering four days of entertainment and delicious food. You can spar with the regulars at Bingo on Wednesday beginning at 5:00pm with a full kitchen and bar available. Thursday the kitchen and bar open at noon. Friday, Saturday and Sunday the Hall opens at 7:00am and offers a breakfast buffet with a full kitchen and bar open in the afternoon. Friday and Saturday DJ Phil Austin entertains from 8-11pm. Sunday will feature a live band. On Eclipse Monday the hall opens at 7:00am and will offer breakfast and lunch. The Hall will close Monday at 9:00pm. Bourbon flights and singles are available every afternoon and evening with more than 140 unique bourbons available.
Saturday, April 6, starts off with the Delphos Relay for Life Craft and Vendor show at Delphos Jefferson High school. From 9:00am-1:00pm more than forty vendors will offer a variety of crafts and products. There will be raffles and concessions on site with free admission. All proceeds from the Show will go to Delphos Relay for Life in support of the American Cancer Society.
You can satisfy your lunch needs with a BBQ chicken dinner at Delphos VFW Post 3035. They’ll begin serving dinners, carry-out only, at 11:00am until sold out. The dinners are only $10 and include half a chicken, cole slaw, corn and a roll. All proceeds benefit the Veterans Food Pantry of NW Ohio.
In the afternoon the Delphian Social Club will fill The Lot downtown with festivities for stargazers of all ages. Beginning at 5:00pm bounce houses and entertainment will keep the kids occupied while their parents enjoy food from a variety of food vendors with ice cold adult beverages to wash it down. There will be big screen tv’s under the big tent so fans can follow their favorite teams in March Madness’ Final Four. Local favorite Adam Wisher will provide live entertainment from 8:00-11:00pm.
On Eclipse Eve, Sunday, April 7, the Delphos Running Club will host a 5k at Delphos Jefferson High School at 2:00pm. You can register for the No Sun Run on the Delphos Running Club Facebook page or beginning at 1:00pm on the day of the event. Organizer Mandy Weimerskirch notes, “All abilities and ages are welcome, just like the Delphos Run Club, but this is an official race with chip timing. Hope to see a large crowed as we No Sun Run for this historic event.” There are currently more than 125 registered to participate in this event.
Following the No Sun Run head downtown to The Lot for a rocking concert with Nashville Crush. The Delphos Rotary Club will host a special Eclipse edition of its annual Music in the Park series. The concert is free and you can grab a bite to eat and a cold drink from the Rotary Club’s concession stand. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket to put down and rock along, or dance, to one of the region’s most popular bands.
On Monday morning, April 8, 2024, get up early and head back to The Lot for the Delphos Optimists Club’s Pancake and Sausage Breakfast. The Optimists are pros at offering the most delicious pancakes and sausage meals in the area. Serving begins at 7:00am and runs until 10:30am. You can eat in the Big Tent or drive thru and pick up a meal. Cost to eat in or drive thru is $10 with milk or coffee included for eat-in customers.
And then, the Big Event!!! On Monday, April 8, 2024 the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse will begin. At 1:54pm the moon will begin to creep in front of the sun. Slowly and steadily the sun will disappear behind an impossibly dark disk in the sky. At 3:09:43pm the moon will complete its task and totality will occur. The sun will be completely covered by the moon with only the sun’s corona visible flaring from behind a pitch black disc. For three minutes and 33 seconds our section of the planet will go completely dark. During totality planets and stars will be visible in the sky in the middle of the afternoon. There is also a chance, albeit a small chance, that Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks could flare up and put on a show in the fleeting darkness. At 3:13:16pm the sun will begin to peek out from behind the moon and Totality will end. It will take until 4:25pm until the totality of the sun is finally visible again. This great celestial event will not take place in this spot again until 2099. Don’t miss it.
For more information visit the 2024 Eclipse page on the Delphos Canal Commission website: www.delphoscanalcommission.com.
