Home » Kentucky State Parks offering range of events for Aug. 21 solar eclipse

Kentucky State Parks offering range of events for Aug. 21 solar eclipse

Use safety glasses during the solar eclipse.
Use safety glasses during the solar eclipse.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 21, 2017) – Kentucky State Parks will be participating in the Aug. 21 Great American Solar Eclipse with fun and educational events during July and August.

Some parks have astronomy experts scheduled to give talks about the eclipse. Kenlake State Resort Park will kick off the events July 28 with “The Star Geezer” Mark Steven Williams. Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park will host University of Louisville Astronomy Professor Benne Holwerda for a presentation the weekend before the eclipse.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park is hosting an eclipse beach party while Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site will offer guests a view from ancient mounds and Native American demonstrations.

Event and parking fees will be charged at some parks for this special event. For a complete listing of parks and eclipse events, visit: parks.ky.gov/eclipse.aspxMore eclipse information is available at: www.kentuckytourism.com/eclipse/

Most park lodges and campgrounds are full for the Aug. 18-21 weekend, but there may be some openings – please call for reservations. Park information is available at www.parks.ky.gov

The Kentucky State Parks also want guests to be safe during the eclipse. Please do not look at the sun – wear approved sun glasses. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe for viewing this event. According to NASA, four manufacturers have certified that their eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products: Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17.

Also, all pools and lake swimming areas will be closed during the dark period of the eclipse at Kentucky State Parks.