On Monday, August 21, 2017, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, casting its shadow across all of North America. This is nature’s most wondrous spectacle – a total eclipse of the Sun. This will be the first total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous United States in 38 years. It is a scene of unimaginable beauty; the Moon completely blocks the Sun, daytime becomes a deep twilight, and the Sun’s corona shimmers in the darkened sky. It is estimated that this total eclipse may be witnessed by over 100 million people.
How will it affect Arkansas?
While Arkansas will not experience a total eclipse, it is expected that the Moon will block about 90% of the Sun during the middle of the eclipse. This is called a partial eclipse. It is estimated that the eclipse will begin at approximately 11:48 am (in Central Arkansas) and will last until about 2:46 pm. The middle of the eclipse, or the time the maximum amount of sun is covered, will occur around 1:20 pm.
Learn more about the Arkansas Eclipse here.
Since this is a near once-in a lifetime event, how can your organization properly turn this into a marketing opportunity???
- If you own a restaurant or drinking establishment, host an Eclipse Watch party. It’s happening during the lunch hour, so get creative. Develop a special sandwich or create a new drink with an eclipse theme (think – Dark Side of the Moon?). Use coupons that can be redeemed during that day for special offers.
- If you are in a health-care related field, promote safe eclipse viewing. Everyone says “don’t look directly at an eclipse.” which only means people will want to do so. Show them the way to properly view a solar eclipse. (Remember, solar eclipse glasses are one of the easiest and safest options!)
- If you belong to a philanthropic or benevolent organization, or just want to do some good – consider purchasing some eclipse glasses for your local school district. School will be in session, and what a wonderful educational opportunity you could provide for some future astronomers and scientists!
- If your organization has outdoor space, this could be a perfect time to host an open house! Consider serving Moon Pies as a sweet treat, while Ain’t No Sunshine or Moon Shadow plays in the background.
- Since the Eclipse falls on Monday, maybe you could host an event-themed party or fundraiser the weekend before. Name it – Let’s Party Where the Sun Don’t Shine….It could be ideal for an “awareness” event while at the same time creating awareness about the Solar Eclipse.
- And don’t forget about social media – invite people to “throw shade” in a more civil manner.
Need more ideas? Let us put a shine on your efforts – eclipse glasses, giveaways, invitations, t-shirts, direct mail and more – let us help you market this event to the moon and back!
In the meantime, here are some more Eclipse FAQ’s.
