Grab the NASA-approved sunglasses and get ready to look toward the sun: America’s first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in nearly a century will pass through the Pacific Northwest on Monday, Aug. 21. At approximately 10:19 a.m., the sun, moon and earth will be in an unswerving alignment, with the moon appearing to completely conceal the blinding disc of the sun, and its shadow causing a momentary twilight for observers in its path.
This is the first time in 99 years a total solar eclipse has reached across the country and the first in 38 years it has occurred in the Pacific Northwest. That is reason enough to grab a drink and get your seats for the celestial show.
“That very dark shadow is only going to be 62 miles wide and traveling at around 3,000 miles per hour,” explains Jim Todd, director of space science education at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). “The moon is close enough to the earth that the disc of the moon is going to be bigger than the sun, creating the totality coverage… You’ll be able to see the stars and the bright planets which will be spectacular.”
The path of totality will only last for about two minutes, stretching across the country with Northwest hot spots including Madras, Baker City and Salem, Oregon, as well as Ketchum, Idaho Falls and Victor, Idaho. Todd says nearly 3.2 million Oregonians whom reside in the path will be able to witness the unforgettable phenomenon from the comfort of their homes, while nearly 1 million visitors are expected to cross state lines for viewing.
Time is of the essence, so finding the best location to witness the path is crucial for spectators, with ideal positions around the Northwest filling up as the countdown lessens.
“It is highly advertised that Oregon has the best chance of clear weather than any of the other 14 states in the path of totality,” Todd says of why the state is on every astronomy enthusiast’s radar, adding that Oregon will host nearly 100 events statewide.
So where do you rest your backside while stargazing on a Monday morning? A wide variety of Oregon drinks producers suggest you stop by their place.
“We have astrophysicist Ethan Siegel with us for the night before to do a star talk, [plus] the day of and during to do an eclipse talk,” says Janie Hueck Brooks, managing director at Brooks Wine in Amity, Oregon. “We will also be celebrating with the release of our first vintage of sparkling Riesling that day.”
The Eola-Amity Hills AVA winery is hosting a campsite across 6,000-square-foot grounds, with 100 sites left open for day-of viewers.
Just nine miles outside of Salem where Todd and OMSI will be hosting their big eclipse party at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, Willamette Valley Vineyards welcome visitors to a weekend-long party at the estate winery. An open house throughout the weekend will release commemorative bottlings of 2015 Solar Eclipse Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and the viewing party will take place in the eastern-facing vineyard block. Post-eclipse, the celebrations will continue with wine tastings, educational seminars, live music and heaps of food.
“We are located in the direct path of the eclipse,” says winery director Christine Collier. “We also think wine enthusiasts would enjoy being among the vines to experience this natural phenomena.”
In Independence, the Indy Goes Dark festival will be bringing in fun for all to its prime location. Local producers will pour next to Independence-made food for the Food Truck and Brew Fest, touting a list of more than 20 different Oregon cideries and breweries for the gathering.
In Central Oregon, where star position Madras resides, the Oregon Solarfest will bring in more than 20 musical acts for the three days leading up to the eclipse, with camping, glamping and mounds of local food and drink vendors to satiate the estimated 20,000 to 40,000 attendees.
Drop into Barley Brown’s Beer in Baker City for a specially released pint while in the path of totality. Camp out at Tyee Wine Cellars in Corvallis and take your tasting on the move for a post-eclipse stroll through the vineyard at Left Coast Cellars in Rickreall. In Dundee, enjoy the “Solar EggClipse” breakfast buffet and mimosas at Thistle Wines or head farther south to Dayton at Stoller Family Estate for an outdoor sleepover with live music, food, wine and s’mores the night before. On the Oregon Coast in Newport, Rogue Ales & Spirits will be holding a yoga class at the brewery after the eclipse, followed with a frothy pint.
What will eclipse expert Todd be raising a glass of for this once-in-a-lifetime experience? Some Oregon beer, he says, probably the specially released Chromosphere blonde ale from his high school buddy John Harris at Ecliptic Brewing in Portland.
“If I wasn’t working, I’d be drinking an ice-cold beer, enjoying the event, savoring all of it,” Todd says, noting how many beverage producers are jumping on the one-off eclipse release bandwagon. “Oregon [producers] are setting up their viewings for the event and capturing the excitement.”
This article originally ran in the summer print edition of Sip Northwest magazine. For the full story and more like it, click here.
