A solar eclipse viewing party will be held Monday, Aug. 21 at First Tennessee Park north of downtown Nashville, according to a press release from Nashville Mayor Megan Barry.
First Tennessee Park is home to the Nashville Sounds, and the minor league baseball team is working with the city of Nashville and the Adventure Center Center to host the party.
This will be the first time since 1918 that a total solar eclipse will sweep across the U.S. Nashville is the largest city in its path. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth and the moon fully or partially blocks the sun.
The viewing party will include science demonstrations and music from the Nashville Symphony.
Gates open at 10:30 a.m. and Barry will welcome the crowd at 11:00 a.m. Everyone attending will receive special solar glasses for safe viewing of the eclipse. Seating is first-come, first-served, excluding club level and group areas.
The eclipse will begin at 11:58 a.m., with totality beginning at 1:27 p.m. and lasting for nearly two minutes.
After the viewing party, the ballpark will be cleared at 2 p.m. and will re-open at 3 p.m. for the Nashville Sounds game against the Iowa Cubs. Barry will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at 3:50 p.m. before the start of the game at 4:05 p.m.
Tickets to the viewing party and the Sounds game are on sale now at the Nashville Sounds ticket office and on the Nashville Sounds website.
