In 12 days the Sikeston community will be buzzing with activity in anticipation of the Total Solar Eclipse.

Sikeston will be in totality for over three minutes and as many as 10,000 to 15,000 extra visitors are expected to the city to watch the event.

However, it will not be just the Total Eclipse drawing visitors with a weekend full of activities on tap to get everyone ready for the big event.

Thursday, April 4

• Beginning April 4, the Sikeston Public Library will have their annual book sale, from 5-8 p.m.

Friday, April 5

• The Sikeston Public Library will continue their annual book sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Moonlight Madness Shopping in Historic Downtown Sikeston will feature sales and specials in many stores.
• The Sikeston Jaycees will be holding a Pre-Eclipse Party from 6-11 p.m. at the Rodeo Grounds, featuring the music of Blind Velvet, Noir Daze and Logan Chapman. Purchase tickets at Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo (Crawfish) Tickets (etix.com)

Saturday, April 6

• The Sikeston Public Library will continue their annual book sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• The Sikeston Public Library will also be holding Animal Tales at 10 a.m. A program will be presented on how animals will react to the April 8 eclipse.
• Moonlight Madness Shopping in Historic Downtown Sikeston will continue, featuring sales and specials in some stores.
• Cosmic Pickleball will be held at the Sikeston Recreation Complex from 7-10 p.m.
• The Sikeston Jaycees will hold their annual Crawfish Boil & Music Festival from noon to midnight at the Rodeo Grounds. The headline act will be Bryan Martin and will also feature Nobody’s Darling, Countless Daze, Sean Coray, Amirical, Deuce Denninger Band and Heet & The A/C’s. Purchase tickets at Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo (Crawfish) Tickets (etix.com)
• Also at the Crawfish Boil will be Scoping the Skies telescope viewing.

Sunday, April 7

• The Sikeston Public Library will conclude their annual book sale from 1-3 p.m. Any remaining items will be sold for $1 per bag, and the Library will even provide the brown paper bag.
• Moonlight Madness Shopping in Historic Downtown Sikeston will continue, featuring sales and specials in some stores.
• Movie in Legion Park, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and watch “E.T.” Also Scoping the Skies telescope viewing will be available.

Monday, April 8

• An eclipse viewing party will be held at the Recreation Complex from noon to 2:30 p.m., with the eclipse beginning at 1:58 p.m.
  • Live radio programming and eclipse countdown will be provided by Reid Howell and KYMO Radio (105.3 FM) from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the Clinton Building.
  • There will be a NASA information booth and giveaways at the Clinton Building.
  • Citizen C.A.T.E. Science Booth will be at the Clinton Building with telescope viewing and eclipse activities.
  • 9 Holes to Go Mini Golf will be set up in the Sikeston Recreation Complex along with food trucks.
  • A concession stand will be open in the Sikeston Recreation Complex and the City of Sikeston will have a booth at the Clinton Building giving away free popsicles.

There will also be Scoping the Skies telescope viewing in Historic Downtown Sikeston at the Depot parking lot and Sikeston Public Library parking lot.

Glasses

Eclipse glasses ($3 per pair) and Eclipse T-shirts ($20) are on sale at the Sikeston Convention & Visitors Center.