Reflecting on Magic at Minnetrista: The Total Solar Eclipse
Magic at Minnetrista: The Total Solar Eclipse is over, and we couldn’t be happier with how the past few days have unfolded! Nearly 1500 visitors from near and far, including 23 states outside of Indiana, gathered on our campus throughout the celebration, and over 900 were here for the Community Viewing Party.
Saturday through Monday, April 6–8, we welcomed our community to celebrate the eclipse through the lens of history and the arts at Minnetrista in collaboration with Ball State Public Media, the City of Muncie, Muncie Children’s Museum, Muncie Visitors Bureau, and Orchestra Indiana. We created solar viewing crowns and color suncatchers, learned from NASA Solar System Ambassador Sarah Vise, listened to local author and illustrator Laurie Lunsford read her book The Solar Eclipse is Coming, and delighted in performances of A Golden Curve of Light, an eclipse-themed one-act play written by award-winning playwright Jennifer Blackmer, and Orchestra Indiana’s Eclipsed: A Magical Night of Music. In addition to the incredible programming, we opened our exhibitions an extra day for visiting families, and our Hospitality team offered a full menu of food to enjoy during the festivities.
We thank you all for sharing these extraordinary moments with us, with your family, friends, and beloved pets by your side. Your enthusiasm and excitement for the eclipse made the event even more unforgettable. Fortunately, we captured several special moments during the three-day celebration and are excited to share them with you all! Browse them in the slideshow below and download them using our Flickr album, and be sure to tag us on socials when you post!
This event was supported by the Simons Foundation and its 'In the Path of Totality' initiative and local sponsor eKeeper Systems. We thank them for their invaluable support, which made this celestial celebration possible!
What’s next? So many things! We invite you to come back at the end of this month for our Arbor Day Celebration, where you can pick up a free sapling and join our Run for the Trees: Happy Little Walk/Run 5K! Next month, we will see the return of outdoor Farmers Markets starting May 4 and our signature event, Garden Fair, on May 10 and 11! This two-day community event is the perfect destination for foodies, music lovers, and garden enthusiasts alike.
Also opening next month are three new exhibitions! Come explore Bird Photographer of the Year, Young at Art: A Selection of Caldecott Book Illustrations, and, back by popular demand, Imagination Playground! Check out our exhibitions page and mark your calendar for the openings!
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