Festivals & live events
Virtual events can be great, but let’s face it, there’s nothing like a live, in-person event. Whether it’s a weekend-long arts and culture festival or a weeknight concert in the park, live events possess the unique ability to bring us together — literally and figuratively — around a shared experience. The total eclipse on April 8 will certainly be one of those moments, as will the events we’re supporting as part of this campaign.
No town or city does a festival the same way — that would be impossible. Each community brings with it its own music, food, people and more. We’re committed to supporting festival and event organizers to incorporate eclipse-related programming into their already-fantastic lineups. It’s our hope that this eclipse can serve as a unifying thread that weaves through this series of brilliantly eclectic events.
Matthew Starr presents: Dark Matter
Comedian Matthew Starr presents his solo show Dark Matter. Part stand-up, part science, Dark Matter is like if Mike Birbiglia and Stephen Hawking listened to Dashboard Confessional. Men will literally learn astrophysics instead of going to therapy. If you’ve ever been in a relationship or existed in this known universe, this is the show for you!
The Universe in Verse at Waterloo Park
On the evening before the first eclipse in Austin in 627 years, writer Maria Popova (The Marginalian) brings The Universe in Verse to the Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park. The show – a charitable celebration of science and the wonder of reality through poetry and storytelling – will feature a cast of beloved musicians, writers, artists, and other public figures, reading poems that speak to the science of eclipses.
Eclipse Viewing Party at the Long Center
We’re hosting our flagship, day-of eclipse event at the Long Center in Austin, TX. The Simons Foundation and the team at the Long Center have programmed 4 hours of entertainment, centered around the total eclipse and hosted by Radiolab’s Molly Webster. The Radiolab team will be recording a special episode from the Long Center, and the day will feature music by composer and Austin legend Graham Reynolds. Acclaimed writers Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman will lead guests through a visual storytelling experience.
Morning Glories with Radiolab’s Molly Webster
Join Radiolab’s Molly Webster on the day after the eclipse at Waterloo Park for a special edition of Morning Glories, a free weekly early childhood education program that aims to foster a lifelong love of learning, community and the outdoors through music, dance, cultural learning and nature play. Webster will lead a special reading of her book “Little Black Hole”— a space-themed story about belonging and the power of friendship.