A Message from Monroe County Executive Adam J. Bello
Monroe County will have a front-row seat to the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse—a once-in-a-lifetime experience where there’s not a bad seat in the house. Western NY and the Finger Lakes region are expecting 300,000 to 500,000 visitors, with about 150,000 of those in Monroe County alone. While we can expect traffic delays and the minor inconveniences that come with hosting any major event, with some preparation and planning, we can all enjoy this extraordinary cosmic occurrence. We urge all residents to:
Be Aware: Mark your calendars for April 8, 2024. The visible eclipse will occur from 2:07 p.m. to 4:33 p.m., and the “totality” or darkness duration from 3:20 p.m.to 3:24 p.m.
Be Prepared: Special glasses are required to view the eclipse safely. Give yourself plenty of time to travel to and from any eclipse special event.
Be there: There are dozens of special events and places to experience the eclipse, including our beautiful county parks.
Pick a park—then park it! If you are looking for a family friendly place to view the eclipse and spend the afternoon, I invite you to explore one of our 21 beautiful county parks. Avoid the rush and enjoy a fun family outing. Click on your favorite park below to see what activities and amenities are available before and after the eclipse.
Below you will find everything you need to know to Be Aware—Be Prepared—Be There and have a safe and enjoyable eclipse viewing experience.
Be Aware Be Prepared Be There Parks City Events FAQ
- A total Solar Eclipse will happen on Monday, April 8, 2024
- A total solar eclipse is when the moon completely blocks out the sun, causing darkness during the day.
- Eclipse Timing: 2:07 p.m. - 4:33 p.m.
- Totality / Darkness Timing: 3:20 p.m. – 3:24 p.m. (3 minutes and 38 seconds)
- What will happen during totality:
- Deep dusk in the sky
- The temperature may fall by as much as 10 degrees
- Animals and plants may behave as if it’s nighttime
- It will feel eerily still with a sense of wonder and awe
- It will still get dark even if it’s a cloudy day
- This is an historic event that can only be seen from a few places on Earth and Rochester is one of them this year! The next total solar eclipse for Rochester won’t occur for another 120 years, on October 26, 2144.
- 300,000 to 500,000 thousand visitors are expected to come to our region with about 150,00 of those in Monroe County. Many will arrive on Saturday, April 6 and stay through Tuesday.
Protect Your Eyes:
- Always use ISO-Certified 12312-2:2015 eclipse glasses when looking directly into the Sun during the duration of the eclipse
- Sunglasses don’t provide enough protection and you could damage your eyes
- The general recommendation is to have 2 pairs of eclipse glasses per family. It’s OK to share eclipse glasses if you won’t be looking at the Sun the entire time
- Find out where official eclipse glasses are sold:
Where To Buy Glasses Glasses FAQ
Plan for Traffic:
- Allow extra time when driving to work, events and appointments
- Traffic is expected to be the heaviest right after totality ends
- Some streets or bridges may be closed for pedestrian viewing
- Consider using 511NY Apps (Apple and Android) to view current travel conditions
- If you plan to be driving during eclipse please remember to:
- Avoid stopping on roadways to view the eclipse
- Use headlights when driving
- Fill your gas tank ahead of the eclipse
- Have water, medications, food and appropriate clothing (boots, hats, blankets) in your vehicle
Medical Preparations:
- Refill prescriptions in advance
- Avoid scheduling non-emergent medical appointments on the afternoon
- If you have a medical condition that may require immediate access to medical assistance, consider staying closer to hospitals or urgent care facilities
Not a Typical Day:
- Most Schools will be closed
- Some business will be closed, work remotely or flex their hours
- Try to not schedule routine deliveries or appointments for this day
- Restaurants and stores may be crowded with visitors
- Cell service could be slow
Pick a park—then park it!
- Avoid the rush and enjoy a fun family picnic. Explore one of our 21 beautiful county parks to view the eclipse and spend the afternoon.
Attend a local event!
- Some events run from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Plan to stay for the duration of the event
- Bring what you will need for the day
Visit RochesterEclipse2024.org For Local Event Listings
For optimal viewing we suggest these Parks
Park it in the Parks to view the eclipse and then stay for the passive and active amenities that Monroe County Parks have to offer! Here are Parks we recommend to view the Eclipse from.
Black Creek Park
3835 Union St. North Chili
- Off-Road Biking
- Bird Watching Location
- Geo-caching
- Hiking
- 4 Pickleball Courts
- Playground
- Large Open Fields
- 2 Open Restrooms
Churchville Park
629 Kendall Rd. Churchville
- Disc Golf Course
- Fishing
- Geo-Caching
- 1 Pickleball Court
- Playground
- Large Open Fields
- Bathrooms open at East West Lodge, Church Lodge, Cottonwood Lodge, and the golf course pro-shop
Ellison Park
395 Rich’s Dugway, Rochester
- Disc Golf Course
- Fishing
- Geo-Caching
- Hiking
- 4 Pickleball Courts
- Playground
- Large Open Fields
- Kayaking/Canoeing
- Dog Park
- Bathrooms at North Landing, Creekside, and Hazelwood
Genesee Valley Park
99 Elmwood Ave. Rochester
- Bird Watching Spot
- Fishing
- Geo-Caching
- Hiking
- Kayaking/Canoeing
- Playground
- Bridges over the Genesee River to watch the eclipse from
- Large Open Fields
- 2 porta-johns and Golf Pro-Shop Restrooms
Greece-Canal Park
241 Elmgrove Rd. Rochester
- Access to Erie Canal
- Bird Watching Spot
- Fishing
- Geo-Caching
- Hiking
- Kayaking/Canoeing
- Pickleball Court
- 2 Tennis Courts
- Playground
- Dog Park
- Large Open Fields
- Bathrooms at Millennium Lodge
Highland Park
171 Reservoir Ave. Rochester
- Geo-Caching
- The Lamberton Conservatory
- The Highland Adventure Zone Playground
- View the Eclipse from the Warner Castle Gardens and the Sunken Garden
- View the Eclipse from the Overlook by the Reservoir
- Close Proximity to Restaurants
- Bathrooms at the Lily Pond, Lamberton Conservatory, and Overlook
Mendon Ponds Park
95 Douglas Rd. Honeoye Falls
- Tennis Court
- 4 Pickleball Courts
- Playground
- Hiking
- Large Open Fields
- Wild Wings Nature Center
- Bathrooms at Wild Wings Nature Center, East Lodge, West Lodge, and Hopkins Point
Northampton Park
304 Salmon Creek Rd. Brockport
- Large Open Fields
- Large Natural Playground
- Hiking
- Bathrooms at Alpine Lodge
- Has an extra 5 seconds of totality compared to Rochester!
Ontario Beach Park
4650 Lake Ave. Rochester
- Tennis Courts
- Pickleball Court
- Accessible Playground (NEW)
- Beach front
- Walkable Pier
- Synthetic Ice Rink
- Bathrooms at Robach Center and in regular locations
Seneca Park
Seneca Park Zoo
- Eclipse Weekend will feature a range of on-site activities, all included with Zoo admission!
Webster Park
255 Holt Rd. Webster
- Tennis Court
- Pickleball Courts
- Hiking
- Large Open Fields
- Dog Park
- Beach Area
- Walking Pier
- Bathrooms at Parkview
Other Parks that will be open
These parks will be open but may not have an optimal view of the eclipse.
Abraham Lincoln Park
Durand-Eastman Park
1500 Lakeshore Blvd. Rochester
- Fishing
- Geo-Caching
- Kayaking/Canoeing
- Playground
- White Lady’s Castle
- Access to Lake Ontario
- Porta-Johns
Irondequoit Bay Park West
512 Front Ln S. Rochester
- View of Irondequoit Bay
- Kayaking/Canoeing
- Fishing
- Shared Use-Trails
- Off-road cycling
- Porta-Johns
Lehigh Valley Trail
Lucien Morin Park
Oatka Creek Park
9797 Union St. Scottsville
- Hiking
- Large Open Fields
- Trout Fishing
- Kayaking/Canoeing
- Porta-johns
Powder Mills Park
154 Park Rd. Pittsford
- Tennis Courts
- Pickleball Courts
- Playground
- Hiking
- Trout Fishing
- Fish Hatchery
- Bathrooms at Hatchery and Rand Lodge
Tryon Park
City of Rochester Events
Party in the Dark Total Eclipse ROCS the Market
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will Sunglasses be OK to wear?
No. They are not strong enough.
Can I use my eclipse glasses from 2017 or 2021?
Yes. Check to ensure they are not scratched or have holes in them
Should I wear them during the entire eclipse?
If you’re in the path of totality, you can take them off ONLY during the totality. Otherwise, keep them when looking at the Sun.
Should I wear the eclipse glasses while driving home?
No. It would be similar to putting on a blindfold.
When I put them on, I can’t see anything. Are they still good?
Yes. That means they are working!
Can I wear eclipse glasses and look through a camera lens, binoculars or a telescope?
No. Using eclipse glasses on the outer part of the cameras, binoculars or telescope may cause eye injury. Always use a special-purpose solar filter over the front of the optics to view the Sun.
Does everyone need their own pair of eclipse glasses?
It’s OK to share eclipse glasses if you won’t be looking at the Sun the entire time. The general recommendation is to have 2 pairs of eclipse glasses per family.
How can I tell if my eclipse glasses are legitimate?
Look for the ISO mark and ISO 12312-2:2015
Where can I buy eclipse glasses?
If I wear the eclipse glasses inside, will I see anything?
Sometimes you can look at a bare light bulb (not LED) and see just the filament
