CAPE GIRARDEAU – On Saturday, October 14, 2023, and Monday, April 8, 2024, North America will experience two solar eclipses. The October 14th solar eclipse will be a “partial eclipse” for Missouri, and a good chance to practice for the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.
On April 8, 2024, portions of Southeast Missouri will experience more than four minutes of “totality”, nearly double the length of totality of the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse with all of Missouri experiencing a “partial eclipse”.
To help you get ready for these amazing events, the Missouri Eclipse Task Force is hosting an “Expo” in Cape Girardeau that kicks off with a panel discussion on Friday evening, July 21st and ends with an all-day expo on Saturday, July 22nd.
Friday evening, July 21, 2023 – Panel Discussion
On Friday night, July 21st, the Missouri Solar Eclipse Expo will “kickoff” with a panel discussion entitled “Get Ready for the 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipses”. Panelists include a representative from NASA, eclipse expert Fred Espenak (“Mr. Eclipse”), a representative of the Missouri Department of Tourism, and a weather expert. The Panel Discussion will be held from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University with doors opening at 6:00 pm. Tickets are FREE, but seating is limited A virtual participation option will be available for those unable to attend in person.
Saturday all-day, July 22, 2023 – Solar Eclipse Expo
On Saturday, July 22nd, an all-day Missouri Solar Eclipse Expo will be held at the 30,000+ square foot Show Me Center located on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO. Doors open at 10:00 am and close at 5:00 pm. Tickets are FREE if you pre-register, and $3.00 at the door.
What can you expect?
A variety of exhibits, educational programs, and activities are planned for the day including:
- Exhibits: 80+ exhibits featuring cities, schools, businesses, and civic organizations discussing their plans for eclipse day, where to stay, displays by eclipse experts, and vendors of astronomy equipment displaying their products.
- Educational stations: Activity stations for children with activities illustrating and explaining various concepts related to astronomy, eclipses, weather, and other sciences.
- Expert speakers: Two theaters of speakers featuring talks by eclipse experts, including NASA, covering a variety of topics including safe viewing techniques, how to take photos of the eclipse, weather predictions, and more.
- Solar Viewing: View the Sun through specially designed telescopes (weather permitting)
- Door prizes and handouts for attendees including free solar eclipse glasses.
Exhibitors Opportunities
A variety of opportunities are available for organizations to participate in the Missouri Eclipse Expo.
Exhibitor Booths/Tables
More than 80 exhibits are planned in the 30,000 square foot Show-Me-Center. Exhibitor options include:
- Eight-Foot Table – Non-Profit ($0) with no chairs.
- Standard Booth – Non-Profit ($50) sized 10’x10’ with one eight-foot table and two chairs.
- Standard Booth – For Profits ($100) sized 10’ x 10’ with one eight-foot table and two chairs.
- Premium Booth ($300) sized 15’ x10’ with two eight-foot tables and two chairs.
- Premier Booth ($400) sized 20’ x 10’ that includes four eight-foot tables and four chairs.
NOTE: Table covers and skirts are not provided. There will be no access to electricity unless otherwise agreed to by organizers. Specific exhibit locations will be assigned at the sole discretion of the Expo committee and made no later than July 1, 2023.
Other Opportunities
Other opportunities to participate in the Missouri Solar Eclipse Expo include:
- Hosting an educational station for children
- Solar viewing (weather permitting)
- Limited speaking opportunities
- Offering door prizes and handouts
- Sponsor opportunities
Exhibitor Restrictions and Hotel Discounts
- Exhibitors are responsible for all sales, taxes, licenses required if they plan to sell their products/services on site.
- Exhibitors may not sell concessions at their booth location; however, they may give out small food/snack items at no cost if they wish.
- Exhibitors may access the room for Load In on Friday, July 21, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, July 22, 2023, starting at 6am. For safety reasons, exhibits must be set up and all carts removed by 9 a.m.
- Exhibitors may not break down exhibits before 5 p.m. on July 22, 2023, day. Load Out will start immediately after event completion on Saturday, July 22, 2023, and must be complete by 8:00 p.m.
- Organizers are not responsible for loss of any items stored in exhibitor booths.
- All requests for electric or other requirements for exhibits must be addressed in advance as no changes will be possible on the day of the Expo.
- There are no refunds on exhibit rentals.
- For exhibitors needing lodging, a certain number of hotel rooms are held at a discounted rate.
Learn More and Register
To learn more and register, please visit https://www.semoeclipse.org.
For questions, please email us at expo@moeclipse.org.