Cape Girardeau, Mo. –Missouri Eclipse hosted an eclipse expo Friday and Saturday, July 21-22, 2023. Vendors set up booths to sell and educate the public. Expert speakers lectured about photographing the eclipse event and more. Here is what happened.
What Happened?
Missouri tourism and SEMO joined forces to promote the possibilities of the upcoming eclipse. Speakers held attention in two rooms simultaneously. Children’s activities were arranged in booths around the room. They had a planetarium with different shows, available with tickets only as space was limited. A lineup of the planets was at child eye level. Planets were made from exercise balls or soccer balls. Giant earth- 22.5 feet in diameter was displayed for all to see!
When Was This?
Experts spoke on the upcoming eclipse on Friday, July 21, 2023. They took time to answer questions. Saturday, the booths arrayed the center for attendees to look at and get ideas.
Who Was There?
Expert speakers on photography to NASA gave lectures and were available to answer questions. The event was open to people of all ages.
Children
For children, a balloon expert made creatures from balloons. Coloring pages, colorful maps, the planets: so many booths set up to see and touch. There was a blowup planetarium, too.
Adults
All of the speaking lectures were free. While one was in the main room as the booths, another talk was held in a side room. Adults jotted down notes or took pictures of the screens with notes.
Where Was This
This was held on the campus of SEMO in Cape Girardeau. It was a clean campus with covered parking.
Ideas for souvenirs and logos to market the eclipse were at the booths. The excitement is building for April 8, 2024.
