A sky-high view of April 8 eclipse
Festival in Fredericksburg offering hot-air balloon rides during rare celestial event
The April 8 solar eclipse is quickly approaching, but it’s not too late to make sure you have a perfect view of the rare celestial event. One local event could even grant you sky-high access.
Those who attend the Fredericksburg Solar Eclipse Festival at Grapetown Vineyard and Farm will be able to hop in a hot air balloon for a once-in-a-lifetime ride. The festival will also include camping, a VIP farmto-table dinner, live music, a polo match, a hot air balloon glow and wine tasting.
The Hill Country will be among the best places nationwide to witness the total eclipse because it lies squarely in the path of “totality,” where the moon will completely block the sun. Fredericksburg will be cast under a shadow of darkness from 1:32 p.m. to 1:37 p.m. on April 8.
“During this incredibly rare occurrence, two distinct worlds connect: ours spanning the vast, open terrains of Central Texas and that of the endless space beyond our planet,” the Fredericksburg Eclipse website states.
Attendees are encouraged to camp on-site or find nearby lodging due to the hundreds of thousands of people who are expected to travel to the Hill Country and surrounding areas for the highly anticipated astronomical event. If you’re opting for the latter, beware: the list of available Hill Country accommodations continues to grow shorter — and pricier — by the day.
“Guests attending events should plan to arrive days in advance, have enough supplies to last through the event and leave a day or so later to avoid traffic jams and delays,” the website reads. “You will not want to be traveling in the Texas Hill Country on the day of the eclipse.”
There will also be safari tours available to purchase for a behind-the-scenes look at the camels, alpacas, goats, deer and zebra on the property. General admission tickets start at $45 and can be purchased online.
The tethered hot air balloon rides are dependent on weather. If they have to be canceled, the venue will issue free hot air balloon passes for future events.
For more information on the Grapetown Vineyard and Farm event, visit the Best of Texas website.