Nashville was the biggest city in the path of totality for the 2017 total solar eclipse. The thousands of people who flocked to Music City were not disappointed as the skyline lit up against the dim sky.
PHOTOS: Tennessee, Kentucky Go Dark During Total Solar Eclipse
At the official Music City watch party at First Tennessee Park, 8,000 people from 35 different states and 10 different countries gathered to witness something truly spectacular, and even the Nashville Sounds baseball players were in attendance to watch the eclipse.
“I’ve been playing ball for 10 years, I’ve played for maybe 15, maybe 20 teams, and to happen to be on the Nashville team and also at home at an event that happens once in a lifetime, it’s really, it’s just an incredible opportunity,” Ryan Lavarnway, catcher for the Nashville Sounds, said.
The clouds blew through the area during the partial eclipse, making some people nervous, but it all worked out in the end.
“At first everyone was kind of worried because there were clouds, but it peeked through for a couple seconds, and it was just so cool, everyone’s just kind of like a little kid again and got to see the eclipse,” Kristina Robbins, a resident in Franklin, said at the Music City viewing party. “In a time where there’s so much not so great stuff going on, it’s just really awesome for people to come together and just appreciate the beauty of nature and just how cool that was.”
Mayor Megan Barry watched the eclipse from the field, and after the eclipse, said it was an amazing experience.
“With the last three weeks that I’ve had, I just felt grateful, and very touched,” Barry said.
According to Barry, the city was expecting more than one million visitors for the eclipse, filling up the hotels as well as flights both into and out of Nashville.
The Adventure Science Center featured speakers, live music, fun activities and chances to explore science and technology.
The countdown to totality began at 1:20 Monday afternoon. Outdoor activities are free. However, you need a ticket to get inside for the eclipse and that's already sold out.
Thousands of people were here Saturday and Sunday for activities leading up to the big event.
