Sunny with a chance of totality, thousands flock to Arkansas for total eclipse

Russellville, Arkansas, nestled in the heart of the Arkansas River Valley, was hailed as one of the prime locations to witness the extraordinary transition from day to night during the total solar eclipse.

In anticipation of the event, which drew crowds nearly three times the city’s population of 29,000, Russellville and Pope County authorities had been making preparations for months. Although the influx of visitors did not cause traffic gridlock or strain local resources, area businesses reported a significant increase in sales.

With North Texas experiencing cloudy weather forecasts, hundreds opted to adjust or cancel their plans. Many families, including Ivan Hernandez’s, opted to make the nearly five-hour journey to downtown Russellville for Monday’s event.

Hernandez, assisting extended family in selling homemade tamales at Russellville’s Moon Over Main event, remarked on the bustling activity. “The area is never this busy,” he noted, adding that their tamales sold out within hours.

Judge Carmen White, representing Dallas County’s Criminal Court 8, traveled with her family to witness the eclipse in her hometown. “When we found out it was coming to Russellville, we decided to leave Dallas and come celebrate with the hometown folks,” she explained.

Tosha Pearson, part of the Dallas group, praised the presentations featured at the event. “I am totally impressed with the people they have sent in,” Pearson remarked.

Russellville played host to representatives from NASA, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, and the Paris Observatory, adding to the excitement of the occasion. “Just to see how excited they are, just makes us excited. The energy is here,” noted a local resident.

As anticipation built, cheers filled the air, followed by a moment of silence as spectators gazed upward in awe. “I’m so excited,” exclaimed Haleigh Benson, capturing the eclipse on her phone with protective glasses.

Benson, visiting her boyfriend’s family who own a local sporting goods store, found herself in the midst of the action. The family’s eclipse-themed T-shirts sold out prior to totality. Benson found the perfect vantage point on the road to witness the four minutes and 11 seconds of darkness.

“Why not just lay down,” Benson remarked, encapsulating the awe-inspiring experience.

As the eclipse concluded and daylight returned, Carmen expressed newfound enthusiasm for eclipse chasing. “We’re eclipse chasers now,” she declared.