COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — For the second time in a decade, the St. Louis region fell within the path of a total solar eclipse on Monday, and millions of people stopped to look up - with protective eclipse glasses perched on their noses - and see the Moon magnificently pass between the sun and Earth.
Hundreds gathered Monday afternoon in Collinsville's Herald Square for a carnival-like celebration, where skywatchers of all ages enjoyed fun activities, food, face painting, a bubble machine, a fire-eating performance and more to mark the rare solar event.
Although Collinsville was not in the path of totality, the city offered a spectacular view of the partial eclipse, beginning at about 12:45 p.m. Monday and peaking at about 2 p.m. with 99% totality.
As the eclipse approached its peak, the air got colder and the sky got darker and darker before the sun began to return. The street lights automatically turned on, as if it were evening hours.
Businesses in uptown Collinsville also participated in the celebration, with the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau giving out free eclipse glasses, Uptown Scoops offering a special Moon Pie-flavored frozen custard and a chocolate-dipped eclipse cookie and Old Herald Brewery & Distillery serving a special Solar Shandy and Dark Noon Whiskey for the adults.
Uptown Scoops owner Donna Green said, "I am so grateful for the exposure our business has gotten from this. I never expected it, but being a new business it’s really hard to get that exposure. You’re competing with so many voices on social media so this opportunity, I am so grateful."
Robert Smangum from Belleville visited Herald Square so his 3-year-old son could join the festivities.
He told 5 On Your Side this was a moment he'll always remember.
"He loved it and looked up and I had to remind him to put his glasses on. He kept saying 'the moon, the sun.' It was a great bonding experience for us both. It was surreal, pretty emotional as well," he added.
Joanne Waymire drove to Collinsville from Glen Carbon with her sister and best friend.
Waymire can vividly remember seeing the solar eclipse in 2017.
This time around, she wanted to be a part of the fun.
"We’re all retired, so let’s go. It was awesome, it’s a must see," Waymire added.
According to NASA, it will be two decades before the U.S. sees another total solar eclipse like this one.
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