The Erie Downtown Partnership will be joining partners expERIEnce Children’s Museum and others to program Perry Square on April 8, 2024 with a kids’ educational fair for the Total Solar Eclipse. The event will start at noon and feature children’s STEAM learning activities, the Erie County Library Bookmobile, a visit from several teaching representatives from NASA, astrophysicists, and more. Penn State Behrend and Gannon University will be in East Perry Square with a special sunscreen window for small children to be able to safely view the eclipse without having to keep glasses on. Erie Downtown Partnership is encouraging attendees to keep traffic issues in mind and either walk or carpool to the event if possible. “This will be a very exciting day Downtown, we’re hoping to offer something for families in the City and folks who will be visiting and staying in the many nearby hotels,” says Events and Marketing Manager Dave Tamulonis. The event in Perry Square will run from noon to 4:00 on Monday, April 8th. The Downtown Partnership is also distributing a brochure collecting all the restaurant specials, events, and sales happening throughout the weekend leading up to the eclipse that will be available soon in Downtown businesses.
Families are invited to prepare for the Eclipse on Monday with rotating STEAM activities highlighting the marvel at the expERIEnce Children’s Museum prior to the event on Saturday and Sunday. Guests will have the chance to add flashlight experiments, pinhole projectors, magnetic space slime, and Wegmans’ cookie moon phases to their museum visit, all included with admission on the 6th and 7th. “This weekend is more than just a celebration of the eclipse; it’s an opportunity to bring STEAM learning to both children and adults alike and to connect visitors with the Erie community,” says Olivia Wickline, Director of Marketing and Community Relations. On Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, guests can meet with Strong Vincent Middle School students and learn about their participation in the Einstein Incredible Universe project while witnessing their telescope skills. On Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, a special Artist Pop-Up with Ms. Julia will also take place inside the museum. Guests who visit on Saturday and Sunday can enter in the running to win their own “Fun and Moon Bundle” including a copy of “Oh What a Joy is A Solar Eclipse,” eclipse sunglasses, moon celestial buddy, and a commemorative silicone kid’s tumbler. The expERIEnce Children’s Museum will be closed the day of the eclipse, April 8th, to share the excitement in Perry Square with museum tables and interactives set up as part of the kids’ educational fair along with Astrophysicist and former Children’s Museum Fun Facilitator, Zach Lewis.
Check out eriedowntown.com/events for the full calendar or EDP’s social media for event updates and detailed information. EDP’s year-round events and activation in Downtown Erie is made possible by The City of Erie, Erie Insurance, UPMC Health Plan, UPMC Hamot, The Erie Community Foundation, and Erie County Gaming and Revenue Authority.
The mission of the expERIEnce Children’s Museum is engage children, families, and our community from all backgrounds in play-based educational experiences that inspire creativity, exploration, and imagination. To achieve this, we believe in 4 main tenants: Create – Creating something new and solving problems, inspiring innovation, Explore – Investigating new situations and boosting sense of confidence and competence, Imagine – Seeing things in a new way and developing the ability to think unconventionally, and Play – Learning, growing, and developing critical skills To learn more, visit www.eriechildrensmuseum.org.
