Eclipse Information and Tips

The diamond-ring effect can occur at the beginning and end of totality during a total solar eclipse. As the last bits of sunlight pass through the valleys on the moon's limb, and the faint corona around the sun is just becoming visible, it looks like a ring with glittering diamonds on it. Image captured during the 2017 eclipse. (Photo credit: NASA/Carla Thomas)

There will be various events in the area to mark the solar eclipse on Monday.

The partial eclipse in Effingham will begin at 12:46pm. The total solar eclipse in Effingham will begin at 2:03pm. The partial eclipse in Effingham will end at 3:19pm.

Visit Effingham reports that Effingham Performance Center will have parking available from 10am to 4pm. There will be a $50 charge for two parking spaces (one car and one viewing spot). 

Firefly Grill will have an eclipse viewing party from 11am to 3pm. The cost is $100 per person.

Gabby Goat's Ring of Fire Party will run from 1 to 3pm, at no cost for parking to patrons. Tonya will be broadcasting there from noon to 2pm on KJ Country 102.3 and Classic Hits 979XFM.

TK Grille will have an event from noon to 4pm at no cost for parking to patrons.

Tuscan Hills Winery will have an event starting at 11am at no cost for parking to patrons.

The Cross at the Crossroads will have parking free to the public from 10am to 4pm.

Village Wine will have an eclipse viewing party from noon to 4pm at a cost of $30 per person for rooftop access.

Orchard Inn will have a parking lot party starting at noon with an Ozzy Osborne tribute band and food by Fried Green Tomato. Entry will be free.

Meanwhile, Dieterich's "Party in the Path" event will take place both Sunday and Monday.

Sunday will feature food trucks at 2pm, a beer garden at 4pm, Star Lab at Wright Family Center from 2 to 7pm, inflatables from 3 to 7pm, a Solar Panel of Experts at 4pm and 5pm at Wright Family Center featuring Channel 3 Meteorologist Seth Bohnhoff, Lake Land College Physics Instructor Daniel Allen, and Megan Candelaria from the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium, and music by "Flight 50" from 6 to 9pm.

Monday will include food trucks and a beer garden at 10am, music by "Hip Huggers" from 11am to 2pm, inflatables from 11am to 4pm, and the Total Eclipse at 2:02pm.

Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns is offering some guidelines for those traveling for the eclipse event. The sheriff suggests that those traveling east or south might want to get a room and spend the night Monday night. Also, make your vehicle's fuel tank is full, and take along your cell phone chargers. The sheriff said to expect delays and to remember that it could also be difficult for law enforcement to respond to emergencies with their usual speed.

We have double checked on schools in the county; Effingham, St. Anthony and Dieterich schools will be closed on Monday, but school will be in session Monday at Altamont, Beecher City and Teutopolis.