A total solar eclipse is heading your way! On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be able to be seen across parts of Mexico, the US, and Canada and we have front row seats here in Burlington!
What is a solar eclipse?
The easy explanation is that a solar eclipse happens when the moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the light from the Sun and casting its shadow on the Earth.
When is the Next Solar Eclipse?
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be able to be seen across parts of Mexico, the US, and Canada
Is it a big deal if I miss it?
Only if you don’t want to travel to see one. Total eclipses happen about every 18 months but it can only be seen from the same place about once every 330 years! The next total eclipse to be seen in Canada will be in 2044 in the Northwest Territories and Alberta.
Sounds simple – so what’s so special?
It is pretty simple, but there are a lot of things that have to come together to create a solar eclipse, which is why they don’t happen all the time, and why not everyone gets to see one, even when they do happen.
You’ve probably seen diagrams of the planets and moons going around the Sun in perfect circular orbits with everything in line, like marbles rolling around on a plate. If that was true there would be an eclipse every 27 days when the moon moves around the Earth and gets between the Earth and the Sun. In real life the moon’s orbit around the Earth is tilted and oval, both of which help to make eclipses such a rare event.
Most of the time when the Moon passes between us and the Sun it’s too high or too low on that tilted orbit for its shadow to fall on the Earth. Imagine the screen you are reading this on is the Sun and your face is the Earth. Hold your hand at an angle between you and the screen like you are going to karate chop it. If the Moon were at the tips of your fingers the shadow coming towards you would likely miss you and go by your ear or your shoulder. If it were by your wrist, the same. Usually the moon is somewhere on that tilted orbit that means its shadow misses the Earth and we don’t get an eclipse.
Have you ever noticed sometimes the Moon looks huge? That’s because of that oval orbit. Things that are far away look smaller than ones close up, so there are times when the Moon is closer and looks bigger, or further away and looks smaller. What does that mean for an eclipse?
The Moon has to be the perfect distance away from the Earth to block out all of the Sun. If it’s too far away it’s smaller in the sky and doesn’t block out the whole Sun. When that happens we actually do get a kind of eclipse called an annular eclipse where the Moon looks like a dark disk on top of a bright ring of Sun but doesn’t completely block the Sun.
The last piece is the shadow of the Moon on the Earth isn’t very big so not everyone will be in the shadow and see the eclipse. The shadow traces a path on the Earth’s surface called the Path of Totality. When you are right in the centre of the Path you will see the Sun blocked, or “totality”, for a few minutes. As you get further from the centre, the time the eclipse spends in totality is shorter. Further out from the path you will still see a partial eclipse, but the Sun won’t be blocked completely, until finally you are so far away from the path you won’t see any difference to the Sun at all.
Here in Burlington we should see totality, but maybe only for about a minute as we are right on the edge of that Path of Totality. If you want to travel to make sure you see the full eclipse for as long as possible, head towards Niagara Falls, Port Dover, anywhere along Lake Erie towards Point Pelee, or Kingston, Belleville, Cornwall area. See an interactive map of the Path here (there may be a few other people with the same idea – check traffic before leaving!!)
The whole event will be around 2 and a half hours, from what’s called First Contact, where the Moon first ‘touches’ the side of the Sun, through partial eclipse, totality, another partial eclipse, to the Sun being completely visible again.
Besides being in the right place, you also need the right equipment, such as eclipse glasses (not sunglasses or welding goggles), or a way of projecting the Sun’s image. Don’t worry, more information and instructions are below!
What To Expect From The Total Solar Eclipse 2024
The eclipse officially starts with First contact, where the Moon first ‘touches’ the edge of the Sun which is an odd name since the Moon and Sun are still around 150 kilometres away from each other – they don’t come into contact at all! From there, the Moon moves across, the dark circle looking like it’s taking a bite out of the Sun, that’s the partial solar eclipse.
In Burlington this stage will be around 2:00 to 3:15pm. From about 3:00 you’ll want to be in your best viewing position, because things happen quickly! Use the search bar on this site to get the timings for your City.
As that partial eclipse gets closer and closer to totality there are some cool things to look out for: About a minute before totality you may see shadow bands which are wavy bands of shadow and light moving on the ground and along walls almost like being at the bottom of a swimming pool. Next, as the Moon moves into position the last of the light shines through valleys on the edge of the Moon creating little dots, called Bailey’s beads. Eventually only one point of light is visible, looking like a diamond on a ring.
Baileys beads and the Diamond Ring Effect are only seen in the last 10-15 seconds before totality, but there’s another chance to see them as the Moon moves through and the light starts to be seen on the other side.
Totality, or second contact, where the last of those Bailey’s beads have disappeared is the only time it is safe to look at the Sun with the naked eye – remember, it may last for less than a minute. If you do take a peek you should see the Sun’s corona, or the spiky halo of gases that surround the Sun. That is what the Sun looks like, it’s just usually too bright to see that outer ring and we only see the circular shape. You may also be able to see some of the brightest stars and planets in the sky.
As Bailey’s beads start to show again, also called Third Contact, go back to viewing safely with your solar eclipse glasses or projector and then see the whole sequence in reverse – the partial eclipse showing more and more sun until the whole disc can be seen again – Fourth Contact.
Cool Fact: While what’s happening in the sky is spectacular, don’t forget to look around you, and feel the surroundings too. As the skies darken during the partial eclipse animals can get confused. Birds may stop singing, nocturnal animals like bats may start to come out and spiders start tearing down their webs, then start building them again as the Sun begins to show. Also, the temperature will drop and the wind will die down, and as it comes back may be in a different direction!
How do we safely view the eclipse?
Glad you asked – you should never look directly at the Sun even when most of it is being blocked by the Moon! No, not even through sunglasses. Most sunglasses have some kind of UV protection which blocks the ultraviolet rays that can do harm to your eyes, but it is not just the type of light coming into your eye that is the problem – it’s the intensity.
The retina at the back of your eye is made up of light sensitive cells. Normally, light comes into your eye and the cells get activated, sending signals along the nerves to the brain which then makes sense of what you are seeing. Your eye also has a lot of liquid in it (called the Vitreous Humour) that acts like a magnifying glass. If you stare at the Sun, you’re focussing all of that energy onto the retina, potentially damaging or destroying those light sensitive cells. There are no pain cells in the back of the eye, so you won’t feel anything, but the damage is happening. Unlike most other kinds of cells, your body doesn’t replace the cells in the eye, so once they are damaged they are damaged.
There are lots of ways to safely see the eclipse though – special solar eclipse glasses block nearly all visible, ultraviolet and infrared light (they are about 100,000 times darker than sunglasses) or you can project an image of the sun using things you probably have around the house.
If you are going to buy glasses, look for the industry standard of ISO 12312-2 (just cut and paste that number into any search engine or store you are looking at). A few places to look into can be found here, and we’ve heard Canadian Tire is selling some as well.
Other Ways To Safely View The Solar Eclipse in April 2024
National Geographic Kids has a great tutorial on how to make your own solar eclipse viewer with some items from around the house. We love cheap science crafts and experiments!
Hopefully we’ve convinced you to take part in this once in a lifetime event happening in our own backyards! If you want to join a Viewing party, check out these events:
Solar Eclipse Events and Activities Near Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville
Sensory Friendly Swimming
Tansley Woods Community Centre 1996 Itabashi Way, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaSensory Swimming Every Saturday, this program offers an adapted swimming environment with no music, a smaller group, no whistles (unless necessary) and quiet changing rooms. Lap, leisure and warming pool […]
Easter Hopfest
Assembly Park 80 Interchange Way, Vaughan, ON, CanadaEaster Hopfest is the perfect way to welcome spring with family, friends, and a whole lot of Easter magic. Taking place from April 18-21 at Assembly Park in Vaughan, this […]
Earth Day Craft Cart
Hamilton Public Library - variousUnleash your creative side using Earth-friendly, recyclable and upcycled materials. Bring your imagination to the table and make a cool creation using only Earth-friendly, recyclable and upcycled materials, in celebration […]
Easter Chocolate Bark Workshop
Burlington Centre 777 Guelph Line, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaKids (and kids at heart!) are invited to our Easter Chocolate Bark Workshop, where they’ll melt, mold, and decorate their own chocolate bark with festive sprinkles, candies, and more. Each […]
Easter at Andrew’s Scenic Acres
Andrew's Scenic Acres 9365 - 10 Sideroad, Milton, Ontario, CanadaLooking for a festive and fun-filled day out with the family? We're open Saturday & Sunday April 12th & 13th, 19th & 20th! Choose from 2 timeslots: Morning 10am-12pm with […]
Easter Crafts at Milton Mall
Milton Mall 55 Ontario Street South, Milton, Ontario, CanadaJoin us in Celebrating Easter with some Easter Crafts! We also have an Easter Set in the shopping centre as a photo prop, only for you!
Easter Lego Make and Take at Mastermind
Mastermind Toys Stores , CanadaVisit your local store to build your own LEGO® Easter Egg – FREE!
Easter Bunny and Egg Hunt at Hamilton Farmers’ Market
Hamilton Farmers Market 35 York Boulevard, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaKeep your eyes peeled because a very special guest will be ‘hopping’ through the Market! The Easter Bunny will be making a delightful appearance from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, […]
Lego Easter Event at Indigo
All Chapters and Indigo Stores , CanadaJoin us in store for an engaging and creative Indigokids Easter LEGO event! Kids will have the opportunity to build their own unique Easter-themed LEGO creation and take them home […]
Our Generation Dolls Slumber Party
Mastermind Toys Stores , CanadaChildren are invited to come with their Our Generation Dolls and get to take part in some slumber party fun activities! They can prepare their very own sleepover guestlist / […]
Ottawa Street Farmers Market
Ottawa Street Farmers Market 3 Britannia Avenue, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaOpen Saturdays, 8 am - 2 pm. A year-round, open-aired market established in 1955. There are 20+ vendors of local, farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, flowers, honey, eggs, syrup and baked […]
Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast at the Scottish Rite Club
Scottish Rite Club of Hamilton 4 Queen St South, Hamilton, ON, CanadaA delicious buffet, crafts, egg hunt, and meet the Easter Bunny!
STEAM Saturdays Workshop: Dirt
Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology 900 Woodward Ave, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaThe museum is excited to present the “STEAM Saturdays” workshop series for kids! These monthly workshops will explore topics in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. This month, get messy […]
Easter Egg Hunt at Carlisle Ice Rink
Carlisle Arena 1496 Centre Road, Carlisle, Ontario, CanadaFree Easter Egg Hunt. Open to all kids 10 and Under. Starts 10AM sharp at the Ball Diamond at Carlisle Arena
Sherkston Egg Hunt
Sherkston Community Centre 4893 Sherkston Rd, Port Colborne, ON, CanadaHop on over for a fun-filled Easter Egg Hunt at the Sherkston Community Centre! This all-ages event is packed with excitement, treats, and chances to win amazing prizes!
Kilbride Firefighters Association Easter Egg Hunt
Burlington Fire Station Kilbride 2241 Kilbride Street, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaThe Kilbride Firefighters Association is hosting our annual Easter Egg Event!
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Powerhouse
The Powerhouse 21 Jones St, Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada*10AM Brunch Seating* Followed by a Meet & Greet with the Easter Bunny AND an Easter Egg Hunt & activities. Adults are welcome to purchase brunch items a la carte […]
Easter Egg Hunt at Mahoney Park
Mahoney Park 1655 Barton St East, Hamilton, ON, CanadaThe Easter Bunny is coming back to Mahoney ParkPictures with the Bunny, raffles, baked goods, and obviously the egg hunt...Can you find the golden egg? This is a community event.
Mountsberg’s Easter Extravaganza
Mountsberg Conservation Area 2259 Millborough Line, Campbellville, Ontario, CanadaHop to this spring celebration running daily over the holiday weekend (April 18 to 20). Featuring an Easter egg hunt, Easter games, bunny face painting and more, it’s a perfect […]
Bronte Creek Victorian Easter
Bronte Creek Provincial Park 1219 Burloak Drive, Oakville, Ontario, CanadaJoin us for Victorian Easter as we share some Easter traditions from over 100 years ago! Visit the Children's Farm (located by parking lot C) for an Easter Egg Hunt […]
The Roach Family Community Easter Egg Hunt
Milton Fairgrounds 136 Robert Street, Milton, Ontario, CanadaSpring is in the air, and we’re excited to see you at our Community Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19, 2025! Bring your family and friends for a fun-filled […]
Cineplex Family Favourites Movies
Weekend plans for the whole gang just got easier! The Cineplex Family Favourites program screens movies Saturdays, for only $3.99 plus applicable taxes (in-theatre price). April 19 - Hop April […]
QB Easter Bash: Bunny Lunch and Pet Pics
QB Sports Bar Grill Games 4460 Fairview Street, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaHop on over to QB Sports Bar Grill Games on Saturday, April 19th from 11 AM to 2 PM for an egg-cellent Easter celebration! Enjoy "Lunch with the Easter Bunny" […]
Dundas Easter Egg-Stravaganza
Downtown Dundas Between Cross and John Street, Dundas, Ontario, CanadaJoin us here in Downtown Dundas for our Easter Egg-Stravaganza! A fun-filled day packed with activities, live entertainment and festive treats for the whole family! Event Highlights:Easter BunnyLittle Tracks Petting […]
Easter Bunny Visit at Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shop Niagara 300 Taylor Road Ste A1, Niagara on the Lake, ON, CanadaThe Easter Bunny will be hopping into store on April 5. Book your spot in the express line on March 29 at 12:01am. We will book on a 7 day […]
Kids Bath Bomb Making Workshop at Burlington Centre
Burlington Centre 777 Guelph Line, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaWho: Kids ages 7-13 What: Create a full-size Easter Bunny bath bomb and hand-paint it with skin-safe micas Duration: 1 hour Price: $15 per child Spots: Very limited – book early Register online at https://www.blossomed.ca/
Lego Easter Egg Make and Take
Toys R Us - all stores Ontario, CanadaBring your little peeps in-store to create a fun, FREE* Easter keepsake!
Dog Man at The Westdale
The Westdale Theatre 1014 King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaSpend your Easter long weekend with Dog Man at The Westdale! On April 19, 20, and 21, they're screening this exciting family film, and kids tickets are just $11.25! Visit thewestdale.ca to view […]
Real Talk: Dying, Death and Grief
HPL - Ancaster Branch 300 Wilson Street East, Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaA supportive space for youth to discuss dying, death and grief. A dynamic discussion to open conversations among youth to navigate their feelings about dying, death and grief. Participants are […]
Mandarin Storytime at Oakville Public Library
Oakville Public LIbrary Woodside Branch 1274 Rebecca Street, Oakville, ON, CanadaJoin us for storytime in Mandarin! We'll read stories, sing songs, and practice rhymes. Ages 6M-5Y Join us for storytime fun, including music and songs! Storytime is led by an […]
Easter Egg Hunt at Kid’s Playtown
Kid's Playtown 2170 Dunwin Dr, Unit 6, Mississauga, ON, CanadaHop on over for a magical Easter Eggstravaganza at Kid’s Playtown in Mississauga! This family-friendly event is packed with fun activities to celebrate the season, perfect for little bunnies of all ages. A […]
Easter Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza at Amazing Adventures
Amazing Adventures -various locationsEnjoy an Easter egg hunt designed for the entire family at Amazing Adventures Playland! The venue is indoors, so no need to worry about unpredictable weather. As part of the […]
Easter Hopfest
Assembly Park 80 Interchange Way, Vaughan, ON, CanadaEaster Hopfest is the perfect way to welcome spring with family, friends, and a whole lot of Easter magic. Taking place from April 18-21 at Assembly Park in Vaughan, this […]
Easter at Andrew’s Scenic Acres
Andrew's Scenic Acres 9365 - 10 Sideroad, Milton, Ontario, CanadaLooking for a festive and fun-filled day out with the family? We're open Saturday & Sunday April 12th & 13th, 19th & 20th! Choose from 2 timeslots: Morning 10am-12pm with […]
Cine Starz Burlington Easter Egg Hunt
CineStarz Burlington 460 Brant Street, Unit 3, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaJoin us on Sunday, April 20th, 2025 at CinéStarz Deluxe Woodbine and CinéStarz Burlington for an egg-citing Easter Egg Hunt the whole family will love! What’s in the eggs? You […]
Brunch with the Easter Bunny at District Kitchen and Bar
District Kitchen + Bar 335 Plains Rd E, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaHop Into Spring With A Fun-Filled Easter Bunny Brunch At District Kitchen & Bar! This Family-Friendly Event Is The Perfect Way To Celebrate The Season With Delicious Food, Festive Activities, […]
C3 Hamilton Easter Extravaganza
C3 Hamilton 601 Burlington St E, Hamilton, ON, CanadaCelebrate Easter with us at C3 Hamilton for a day of family fun, joy, and community! After each service, enjoy the festival with exciting activities, including: Easter Egg Hunt Jumping […]
Mountsberg’s Easter Extravaganza
Mountsberg Conservation Area 2259 Millborough Line, Campbellville, Ontario, CanadaHop to this spring celebration running daily over the holiday weekend (April 18 to 20). Featuring an Easter egg hunt, Easter games, bunny face painting and more, it’s a perfect […]
Easter Bunny Visit at Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shop Niagara 300 Taylor Road Ste A1, Niagara on the Lake, ON, CanadaThe Easter Bunny will be hopping into store on April 5. Book your spot in the express line on March 29 at 12:01am. We will book on a 7 day […]
Easter Bunny Hops to the Hive
Red Chevron Club 34 Elizabeth St, Guelph, ON, CanadaThe Easter Bunny is coming! Thanks to our friends at the Guelph Optimist club, the Easter Bunny will be returning! Pay what you can photos with an Easter theme backdrop […]
Family Fun Day
Art Gallery of Hamilton 123 King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaJoin the Art Gallery of Hamilton in the Fischer Gallery for fun, hands-on art-making inspired by our new exhibitions and permanent collection.
Easter Parade at the Westdale Theatre
The Westdale Theatre 1014 King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaAll tickets are $8.75! Sponsored by the Merchants of Westdale Village. One Show Only! Originally Shown at the Westdale! (Feb. 10-12, 1949) Broadway star Don Hewes’ dancing partner goes solo, […]
Easter Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza at Amazing Adventures
Amazing Adventures -various locationsEnjoy an Easter egg hunt designed for the entire family at Amazing Adventures Playland! The venue is indoors, so no need to worry about unpredictable weather. As part of the […]
Easter Hopfest
Assembly Park 80 Interchange Way, Vaughan, ON, CanadaEaster Hopfest is the perfect way to welcome spring with family, friends, and a whole lot of Easter magic. Taking place from April 18-21 at Assembly Park in Vaughan, this […]
Discovery at the Fishway
Princess Point Canoe Launch Hamilton, ON, CanadaWatch RBG ecologists at work as they assist migrating fish to their spawning grounds in Cootes Paradise Marsh! The Fishway is located at the outlet of Cootes Paradise Marsh, a short […]
Dog Man at The Westdale
The Westdale Theatre 1014 King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaSpend your Easter long weekend with Dog Man at The Westdale! On April 19, 20, and 21, they're screening this exciting family film, and kids tickets are just $11.25! Visit thewestdale.ca to view […]
Discovery at the Fishway
Princess Point Canoe Launch Hamilton, ON, CanadaWatch RBG ecologists at work as they assist migrating fish to their spawning grounds in Cootes Paradise Marsh! The Fishway is located at the outlet of Cootes Paradise Marsh, a short […]
Fostering and Adoption Information Session
Online Ontario, CanadaJoin us for an information session to learn more about adopting or fostering with the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton. These virtual sessions are a great opportunity to learn […]
Earth Day Craft Cart
Hamilton Public Library - variousUnleash your creative side using Earth-friendly, recyclable and upcycled materials. Bring your imagination to the table and make a cool creation using only Earth-friendly, recyclable and upcycled materials, in celebration […]
Discovery at the Fishway
Princess Point Canoe Launch Hamilton, ON, CanadaWatch RBG ecologists at work as they assist migrating fish to their spawning grounds in Cootes Paradise Marsh! The Fishway is located at the outlet of Cootes Paradise Marsh, a short […]
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