Check out 4 eclipse events in Richardson

Several locations in Richardson are set to host events April 8 for the solar eclipse, according to a city news release.

Events will begin as early as noon April 8, which is ahead of the window where the moon will completely block out the sun. On the day of the eclipse, the weather in North Texas may impact the viewing of the phenomenon, according to the National Weather Service's Fort Worth office. The eclipse is expected to last from 12:23-3:02 p.m. with totality expected 1:40-1:44 p.m. in Richardson, per the press release.

“The last time the Dallas-Fort Worth area experienced a total eclipse of the sun was 1878, and it won’t happen again here for another 300 years,” said Inga Musselman, provost and vice president for academic affairs at The University of Texas at Dallas, in a university news release. “It will be an unforgettable experience, one that is easily accessible by just walking outside and looking up.”

What you need to know

Four free viewing parties are planned in different areas in and around the city April 8, per the release.

• Birdcall, located at 507 W. Belt Line Road
• Calloway’s Nursery, located at 2100 N. Plano Road
• Dallas College Richland Campus, located at 12800 Abrams Road
• Beyond the Bar Bottle Shop, located at 101 S. Sherman St., Ste. B (limited to 100 attendees)

“Witnessing a total solar eclipse can be a profound, transformative experience for many people, and experiencing it together with friends and family, or even strangers, can make lasting memories,” said Mary Urquhart, UT Dallas planetary scientist and department head of science and mathematics education, in a news release.

What else?

UT Dallas will also have event programming April 8. All classes at the university from 1-2 p.m. are canceled, and nonessential services will be paused during the same window to allow individuals on campus to view the eclipse, according to a news release.

Richardson ISD schools will be operational for regular hours.

To account for the potential of increased crowds and traffic within the city, Richardson staff will place additional police officers on duty April 8, according to a city news release.