BELL COUNTY, Texas — Businesses and community members across Central Texas are preparing for April's total solar eclipse with celestial-themed shirts, food, drinks and really just about anything they can market towards the eclipse.
With the area being a designated hot spot for totality, locals are trying to cash in on the rare event to create a memorable experience and also put the community on display.
Barrow Brewing Company in Salado is hosting a ticketed event on April 8. Co-owner KD Hill said they decided to best manage the crowd and their property by limiting their entries to 500 people. Hill said being in the path of totality is something they have been looking forward to for two years and it's going to be "biggest party ever on a Monday."
"With this influx of tourists, we think that they're gonna fall in love with Central Texas -- the way all of us have," Hill said.
Barrow Brewing Company's event will include eclipse viewing glasses, food and beer options, live music and even dancing aerialist on silks! Hill said it's all possible with the partnership and sponsors they're working with, including Bright Green Light Productions, Salado Cultural Arts District. They're calling the event "Sounds Over Salado: Solar Sessions."
Hill said the most of the tables they're offering to guests on April 8 have almost sold out, and they still have individual tickets. If you're wanting to get in on the fun, Hill recommends you act soon especially since the eclipse event comes after Barrow Brewing Company's anniversary party. You can get your tickets here.
Hill said while they want to provide a memorable and fun experience, safety for all is one of their top priorities.
"We always want to do our best to take advantage of Mother Nature, but I think for us it's managing the people," Hill added. "The county, the state, the cities have all been so proactive about the emergency situations. We've been talking to our local fire department and local police chief and so for us safety of our customers and our locals is really important."
The owner of Pink Bulldog Boutique in Belton, Micah Springston, is another local hoping to feel an economic boom from the eclipse by giving locals and visitors something to remember the rare moment.
Springston is making and selling eclipse and celestial-themed shirts. She has six designs with something for anyone, whether you are looking for cute, funny or a 90s band-tee look. They've become such a hit, Springston has sold around 75 shirts in about a week.
"I love getting to make these things for customers and then getting to see them post pictures," Springston added. "I think it's fun to be able to really just have that memory with these shirts, they can take it with them. They can wear it for years to come and have something fun to represent that memory in their life."
Some of the shirts designs including the saying "hello darkness -- my old friend," "I got mooned," and "I blacked out in Texas." She also has a shirt with a list of different times and locations of cities in the United States that are in the path of totality.
"For my business, we really pride ourselves on being unique and so we will have unique things that they can do, besides the t-shirts," Springston said. "We have a custom hat patch bar and bags for people to create their own. I plan on grabbing some more patches that are geared towards the solar eclipse."
Springston said she's also looking forward to showing off Central Texas as she said there will be lots of events and vendors surrounding the day of the total solar eclipse to capitalize on the moment.
"I think it's super cool for our little town that so many people are going to be coming to Central Texas and to Belton particularly," Springston added. "I think it'll be really cool to be able to showcase our small town and there'll be fun for everyone to walk around and experience our small town."
If you are interested in ordering an eclipse shirt from the Pink Bulldog Boutique, you can do so here.