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Best Places to View the Solar Eclipse 2024 in NYC

Protect little eyes when viewing the eclipse. Photo by Mark Margolis via The American Astronomical Society
Protect little eyes when viewing the eclipse. Photo by Mark Margolis via The American Astronomical Society
3/28/24 - By Drew Kristofik

The solar eclipse 2024 takes place on Monday, April 8, and will be partially viewable from vantage points around NYC, weather permitting. We have the scoop on the best places to learn about the solar eclipse, the best vantage points to view the solar eclipse 2024, and details on where to score some cool solar eclipse 2024 eyewear. Several of these eclipse viewing parties in NYC are completely FREE!

Read on for our local picks and keep in mind, it's not too late to plan a road trip or an overnight to the path of totality in Upstate New York, either!

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Solar Eclipse 2024: Best Solar Eclipse Activities and Viewing Parties in NYC

Total Solar Eclipse 2024: Family Astronomy Talk and Craft at the Belafonte Library

Harlem – FREE
Saturday, March 30
Columbia University’s Astronomy Department Outreach Team tells kids all about the upcoming total solar eclipse, then kids design their own moon to discover what causes a solar eclipse to occur. READ MORE

Prepare for the Solar Eclipse at Kings Highway Library

Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn – FREE
Tuesday, April 2
Prepare for the upcoming solar eclipse at the Kings Highway Library. Receive FREE eclipse viewing glasses and make a case to carry them, make a pinhole projector, learn the science of solar eclipses, and discuss eclipse safety. READ MORE

Hands-on History: Eye on the Sky at the King Manor Museum

Jamaica, Queens – FREE
Saturday, April 6
Stop by King Manor to make a solar eclipse viewer and learn about the history of solar eclipse tourism and viewing. READ MORE

Family Art Project: Exploring the Eclipse at Wave Hill

Riverdale, the Bronx
Saturday & Sunday, April 6 & 7
Get ready for the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, by creating and decorating your own pinhole projection box. Learn all about this rare phenomenon and how to safely observe it indirectly with your homemade device. READ MORE

Solar Eclipse Day at the American Museum of Natural History

Upper West Side
Monday, April 8
Gather on the Arthur Ross Terrace (weather permitting) for family-friendly educational activities before the eclipse. Guests can score a pair of AMNH eclipse glasses, while supplies last. READ MORE

Solar Eclipse Viewing at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum

Pelham, the Bronx – FREE
Monday, April 8
Bring a lawn chair or blanket to view the deep partial solar eclipse from Bartow-Pell’s front lawn and watch the moon cover about 90 percent of the sun at maximum eclipse. Bartow-Pell Museum Educator and NYC NASA Solar System Ambassador Robin Vernuccio provides an understanding of what is happening and leads fun eclipse activities for children. READ MORE

Eclipse Viewing on the Intrepid

Midtown West
Monday, April 8
Watch the solar eclipse from the dramatic setting of the flight deck of the legendary aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid. Families can learn more about this cosmic phenomenon from knowledgeable museum educators as they explore the science of eclipses against the stunning backdrop of the New York City skyline and the Hudson River. READ MORE

Eclipse Watch Party at the New York Hall of Science

Corona, Queens
Monday, April 8
The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) hosts an unforgettable eclipse experience, complete with DJ, a NASA-funded solar eclipse station, food from Queens Night Market vendors, and more. Special eclipse-viewing glasses included. READ MORE

Solar Eclipse Community Event at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Prospect Park, Brooklyn – FREE
Monday, April 8
Gather on the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s lawns to marvel at the sky as the moon passes between the Earth and sun and observe the effects of the eclipse on the garden's collections. Will blooms be fooled into closing? Will leaves turn in? Participate in a garden-wide experiment and share your discoveries. READ MORE

Eclipse Olympics at Spuyten-Duyvil Library

Riverdale, the Bronx – FREE
Monday, April 8
Head to Spuyten-Duyvil to receive free eclipse viewing glasses, enjoy carnival-style games, and relax in the library's cozy eclipse viewing area. READ MORE

Astronomy: Solar Eclipse Viewing at Bowling Green Cottage

South Slope, Brooklyn– FREE
Monday, April 8
Join the Urban Park Rangers at a Freshkills Eclipse viewing party. Borrow a pair of safety viewing glasses or take a look through a real solar lens telescope. READ MORE

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at Kings Bay Library

Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn – FREE
Monday, April 8
Not a fan of protective eyewear? Gather at the Kings Bay Library to watch NASA's live stream of the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, as it travels across the United States from the southwest to the northeast. READ MORE

Eclipse Viewing Party at Canarsie Library

Canarsie, Brooklyn – FREE
Monday, April 8
Celebrate the solar eclipse at the Canarsie Library with viewing glasses, coloring pages, and crafts.   READ MORE

Solar Eclipse Garden Party at Saratoga Library

Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn – FREE
Monday, April 8
Snag a spot in the Saratoga Library branch's garden to celebrate the solar eclipse, and see the total eclipse live and in action. Grab a pair of eclipse glasses, enjoy snacks, and create some fun eclipse-themed crafts.   READ MORE

Teen Solar Eclipse Watch at the Brooklyn Heights Library

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn – FREE
Monday, April 8
Teens are invited to congregate outside the Brooklyn Heights Library, on Juneteeth Grove at Cadman Plaza for a special teen solar eclipse event. Arrive early to write down all your worries on paper plates, then tear them apart after the eclipse. READ MORE

Solar Eclipse at Top of the Rock

Midtown West
Monday, April 8
Zoom up to Top of the Rock for a special solar eclipse viewing event that includes complimentary eclipse viewing glasses provided by Warby Parker, themed treats from The Weather Room, and eclipse-inspired music while taking in 360-degree views of New York City. READ MORE

The Great North American Solar Eclipse at Marsha P. Johnson State Park

Williamsburg, Brooklyn– FREE
Monday, April 8
Visit the Park House to learn about and experience the solar eclipse. Eclipse glasses are provided on a first-come, first-served basis! READ MORE

Eclipse Party at the Clinton Hill Library

Fort Greene, Brooklyn– FREE
Monday, April 8
Experience the celestial event of the year at the library! Spend the afternoon creating pinhole viewers, chalking up the sidewalk with beautiful designs, and safely observing the deep partial eclipse as it passes over the city.    READ MORE

Astronomy: Solar Eclipse Viewing in Inwood Hill Park

Inwood– FREE
Monday, April 8
Join the Urban Park Rangers at a Freshkills Eclipse viewing party. Borrow a pair of safety viewing glasses or take a look through a real solar lens telescope. READ MORE

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at Flatiron North Plaza

Flatiron– FREE
Monday, April 8
Flatiron Nomad hosts an afternoon full of science and family-friendly activities. Participate in a family-friendly activity led by the National Museum of Mathematics: can a pea eclipse a beachball, or a grain of sand eclipse the sun? Experiment with eclipsing spheres of different sizes! READ MORE

View the Eclipse from the Rooftop Park at Pier 57

Chelsea/Greenwich Village – FREE
Monday, April 8
Pier 57’s free rooftop park is one of New York City’s largest public rooftop parks and is the perfect place to gather with friends and family and witness the spectacle of the spring. In addition, the Pier is handing out free eclipse glasses to those in attendance, while supplies last. READ MORE

Astronomy: Solar Eclipse Viewing in Van Cortlandt Park

Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx– FREE
Monday, April 8
Join the Urban Park Rangers at a Freshkills Eclipse viewing party. Borrow a pair of safety viewing glasses or take a look through a real solar lens telescope. READ MORE

Solar Eclipse Viewing at Hudson Yards

Midtown West
Monday, April 8
See the last total solar eclipse visible in the United States until 2033 from the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere during peak viewing time. All guests visiting Edge for the eclipse receive free solar eclipse glasses, while supplies last. READ MORE

Astronomy: Solar Eclipse Viewing on Rockaway Beach

Rockaways, Queens– FREE
Monday, April 8
Join the Urban Park Rangers at a Freshkills Eclipse viewing party. Borrow a pair of safety viewing glasses or take a look through a real solar lens telescope. READ MORE

Solar Eclipse Party on Randall's Island

Randall's Island – FREE
Monday, April 8
The Randall's Island Park Alliance hosts an unforgettable 2024 Solar Eclipse viewing event! Experience this rare, once-in-a-generation celestial phenomenon on Randall's Island with complimentary light refreshments and educational information about solar eclipses. A limited number of free solar glasses are available, first come - first served, for safe viewing READ MORE

Solar Eclipse Party at Idlewild

Springfield Park, Queens – FREE
Monday, April 8
Idlewild Park provides glasses for safe eclipse viewing and plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the phenomenon. READ MORE

Astronomy: Solar Eclipse Viewing at Freshkills Park

Freshkills Park, Staten Island– FREE
Monday, April 8
Join the Urban Park Rangers at a Freshkills Eclipse viewing party. Borrow a pair of safety viewing glasses or take a look through a real solar lens telescope. READ MORE

NYU School of Engineering Eclipse Watch Party on Brooklyn Commons

Downtown Brooklyn– FREE
Monday, April 8
NYU's Tandon School of Engineering Community and Brooklyn Commons residents team up for a Solar Eclipse viewing party in the Brooklyn Commons. Stop by to watch the eclipse with friends and grab a pair of Tandon exclusive sunglasses (plus other exciting swag), as long as supplies last.    READ MORE

Eclipse Extravaganza at Greeley Square Plaza

Midtown West– FREE
Monday, April 8
Head to Greeley Square Plaza to (safely) view a solar eclipse with free eclipse glasses, themed crafts, black and white cookies from 34SP's own Ess a Bagel (while supplies last), and music by brass party band Shag Horns. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Harry Belafonte Library
Parade Ground Bowling Green Cottage
Brooklyn Heights Library - Juneteenth Grove
Marsha P. Johnson (East River State Park)
Rockaway Beach & Boardwalk
Idlewild Environmental Science Learning Center

About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
Recent Articles By Drew Kristofik:
Read more articles by Drew Kristofik.