Mainers and folks of all kinds are flocking to a number of towns in the path of totality today to experience the total solar eclipse.
Seeing 100 percent totality is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that thousands of people have come to Maine to experience. It resulted in thousands of people traveling from regions near and far to get into the line of totality.
These pictures capture just a fraction of the excitement and revelry leading up to totality, which will occur around 3:30 p.m.:
Michael Unanue of Cape Elizabeth soaks up the sun in the Walmart parking lot in Houlton, where he and his family camped Sunday night, to see the total eclipse on Monday. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
A homemade sunshade is displayed in the windshield of a vehicle parked at the Walmart in Houlton where people have gathered for the eclipse. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
Matt Stultz of Bath sets up his telescope in Houlton before the total eclipse on Monday. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
April Rivera from Boston and her Old English Mastiffs Vixen and Bailey (background) hang out at their RV on Monday where she had camped with family and friends in the parking lot of the Houlton Walmart to watch the eclipse. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
Campers and day trippers gather in the parking lot of the Walmart in Houlton to watch the eclipse. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
Albert Mach from West Virginia talks to his wife after setting up cameras and a telescope in the parking lot of Walmart in Houlton on Monday morning. Mach, who will be photographing his second total eclipse, was one of many campers and spectators to set up shop at the store. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
Johanna Lopez from Boston shows off the Houlton-opoly game she bought in the Houlton Walmart, where she and friends were camping for the eclipse. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
After camping in their truck Sunday night, David and Dana of Auburn drink coffee and read on a dirt road near the Houlton International Airport while waiting for the eclipse Monday. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
Campers and day trippers gather in the parking lot of the Walmart in Houlton to watch the eclipse. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
Some people arrived to eclipse viewing hotspots like Houlton, Millinocket and Greenville over the weekend. By Monday afternoon, an estimated crowd of 4,000 had showed up in downtown Houlton, filling up most of the available parking.
A steady stream of cars pulls into downtown Greenville on Monday morning, April 8, 2024, many full of people looking for a spot to watch the total solar eclipse. By 11 a.m. downtown street parking spots were all full. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
Juan Martinez of New Jersey sets up his telescope while getting ready to take in the total solar eclipse in Greenville on April 8, 2024. Martinez said he drove all night to get to town. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
Ron Retamales of New Jersey tests the safety filter on his camera while getting ready to take pictures of the total solar eclipse in Greenville on April 8, 2024. Retamales said he had to be at work in Pennsylvania first thing in the morning on Tuesday. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
With a steady stream of cars pulling into downtown Greenville on Monday morning, April 8, 2024, enterprising locals were selling parking spots for $50 per car. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
Sisters (from left) Charlotte Coffin, 10, Ava Coffin, 3, and Carter Coffin, 8, take part in a solar eclipse-themed costume contest at Mud Puddle Mercantile in Greenville on Sunday, April 7, 2024. Chloe Baker stands behind them, dressed as the sun, sporting eclipse glasses which were free with every purchase at the store. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
Timber Stephenson of Cape Cod, and his dogs Shelby Rose and Sadie Mae, are camping in the woods near Greenville this week to be on hand for Monday’s eclipse. Stephenson said he came a week early to beat the crowds. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
Want to share pictures or anecdotes about your eclipse experience? Email us at [email protected].
