Montreal Is Hosting A Once-In-A-Lifetime Eclipse Party This Year

Montreal is set to witness an extraordinary cosmic event this year and the city is throwing a party to mark the occasion. When the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun on April 8, casting a shadow that completely blocks the sun from view, day will turn into night for a brief, magical moment.

To celebrate the rare occurrence, Espace pour la vie and Société du parc Jean-Drapeau are orchestrating a free public event on Île Sainte-Hélène. It will be a viewing party, complete with music, entertainment, and a lineup of activities designed to enlighten and engage. It's shaping up to be the ultimate eclipse-viewing experience.

Parc Jean-Drapeau, situated seven kilometres inside the path of totality, offers an unparalleled vantage point of the eclipse in Montreal. While various locations across the city will catch a glimpse of the event, only Parc Jean-Drapeau spectators will witness the total phase of the eclipse for an extended duration of one minute and 26 seconds. The longer exposure to totality will be a more immersive experience, compared to the shorter durations of visibility elsewhere, like the 31 seconds at Parc Jarry or 27 seconds at Parc Maisonneuve.

To ensure everyone can safely enjoy the spectacle, over 150,000 free protective eclipse glasses will be handed out. The glasses are essential for protecting viewers' eyes from the harmful rays of the sun while allowing full appreciation of the eclipse's beauty.

A central stage at Espace 67 Amphitheatre will feature a lineup of special guests, artists, and experts from the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium and Espace pour la vie's public and educational program teams. There will be plenty of specialists on-site to answer all your astronomical questions.

The full program has yet to be announced, but the eclipse celebration will go on rain or shine. And with the next total solar eclipse not visible in Montreal until 2205, it could be the one of the best seats in the city to catch a special show in the sky.