Solar Spectacle Three-Day Festival

Celebrate the Solar Spectacle with us!

Leading up to the Total Solar Eclipse over the greater Rochester area and Mumford, NY on April 8, at 3:20 p.m., Genesee Country Village & Museum is excited to host a three-day Solar Spectacle Festival!

Explore how 19th-century New Yorkers experienced and recorded celestial events like eclipses as you explore our Historic Village, attend a Magic Lantern Show or enter a mobile planetarium in the John L. Wehle Gallery, dive into the science of eclipses at our Nature Center, enjoy totality tasty themed food and drink, and so much more!

Explore the 19th-century eclipse experience

Programming in the Historic Village

As you make your way around our 19th-century Historic Village, explore how 19th-century Americans viewed, understood, and recorded total solar eclipses (there was a total solar eclipse in Rochester in 1860!).

-Learn about the connections between eclipses, the weather, and the US Navy in the Telegraph Office
-Visit the Print Office to see reproductions of 19th-century articles about eclipses in production
-Learn about women in science like Maria Mitchell (pictured here) when you visit the Romulus Seminary
-Write your own celestially-inspired poem and learn about Mary Loomis Todd in the One Room Schoolhouse
-Explore religious interpretations of celestial phenomena in the Shaker Trustees’ Building
-Delve into celestial photography and tin type photography at the Law Office
-Learn all about 19th-century astronomical observation and scholarship in Rochester through historical figure Lewis Swift in the Livingston-Backus House and so much more!

Step into the science of solar eclipses

Programming in the Nature Center

Step into the science of total solar eclipses at our Nature Center! Join naturalists for fascinating programming during our eclipse event!

-Make your own pinhole camera
-Observe the skies through a telescope with the help of a naturalist
-Participate in an interactive “to-scale” eclipse model on the Great Meadow and so much more!

Learn through art and Museum collections

Programming in the John L. Wehle Gallery

Make your way to the John L. Wehle Gallery to explore the concept of total solar eclipse and other celestial happenings throughout history using art, collections, and objects!

-Enjoy programming inside of a mobile planetarium (Friday, April 5th only!)
-Attend 19th-century-style Magic Lantern Shows (twice daily, Saturday & Sunday)
-Explore a brand new exhibit installation underway in our main gallery
-Enjoy the exhibit “Becoming Gendered: Garment as Gender Artifact” and so much more!

Totality Tasty

Food & Drink Offerings

Savor a number of totality tasty food and drink offerings throughout the Museum grounds!

-19th-century celestially-themed treats and baked goods in the D.B. Munger & Co. Confectionery
-Rohrbach’s Brewing Co. Totality Black Lager on draft
-Food and drink available in the Depot Restaurant
-GCV&M’s historical craft beers (Fat Ox Ale and Stocking Hill Ale) on draft and more!

Celestial Festival Fun

Music, vendors, and more!

Stop by our festival tent for live music, face painting, local vendors with eclipse-themed merchandise, totality tasty treats, and more!

-Carretta’s Craft Foods
-Meliora Crystals & Minerals
-Divanna Chocolates
-Rainbows & Wildflowers
-FLX Popcorn
-These Old Bones
-SarKim Creations

Make once-in-a-century memories

Make sure your eclipse weekend experience is one you’ll never forget!

Have a souvenir tin type photograph taken, purchase limited-edition GCV&M eclipse merchandise, and more.

Plus, our magnificent museum merch is available NOW in the Online Store and in the Flint Hill Store! Show your excitement for the eclipse by shopping our t-shirts, hoodies, hats, totes, posters, and more!

SHOP ECLIPSE MERCH

Tickets:

Museum Members: $14
Museum Member (Youth): $11

Adults: $17
Youth (3 – 12): $14
Children under 3: FREE

BUY TICKETS