Glasses & Eclipse Prep

Eclipse Glasses

Residents and visitors are encouraged to engage in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – with eye safety being vital!

Here are current places to purchase glasses:

• All Things Carmel
• Cicero Market
• Cool Creek Park
• Gratitude Boutique, Fishers
• Kits & Kaboodle, Carmel
• Harbour Market, Noblesville
• Noble Eyes, Noblesville (across from Hamilton Town Center)
• Noblesville Ace Hardware Store #17726
• Noblesville Creates
• Noblesville Main Street - selling glasses at First Friday on March 1 from 4-8 p.m.
• Schoolhouse 7 Cafe, Fishers

Resident Preparation

• Parents of preschoolers and children at daycare should consider pick-up times during the high traffic periods.
• Due to increased traffic, those traveling home from spring break should avoid driving or flights that bring you in after 1 pm on Monday, April 8.
• Take a portable phone charger to your viewing location!
• Be aware that internet and cell phones may be slow or completely unusable. 
  • Consider an AM radio to still receive details from public safety.
• Eye safety is very important! Make sure everyone has access to the eye protection. Noblesville Creates and Conner Prairie both have small quantities of glasses to sell, or sign up for, and complete, the winter reading program at the Carmel Clay Public Library to receive free glasses.
• Have small children practice wearing the Eclipse glasses BEFORE the day of the event.
• Avoid bringing pets outside or to viewing locations, their eye safety is important too!
• GAS (or charge!) UP your vehicle before arriving at your viewing location.
• Enjoy and have fun! There are a variety of events at various price points around Hamilton County that will educate, engage, and celebrate the eclipse. 
• Be weather prepared. It's spring and Indiana. Follow the National Weather Service.
• Non-emergency number: 317-773-1282

Business Preparation

Businesses that plan to close operations for the day:

• Plan to safeguard parking lots, buildings, and other spaces. People will park, camp & gather where they can to watch the sky change.
• Be aware that internet and cell phones may be slow or completely unusable.

Businesses that plan to keep operating hours as normal, but NOT have an event (public or private):

• Area schools are closed that day, so crowds will be busier than a normal Monday.
• Consider the Eclipse with the following as traffic will be chaotic after 3 pm:
  • Shift or schedule changes
  • Product deliveries
  • In-person meetings
• Consider work-from-home schedules & delaying in-person meetings until April 9.
• Be aware that the internet and cell phones may be slow or completely unusable, especially during totality. 
• If you will be staffed, and outside, during the Eclipse: Eye safety is very important - make sure all staff has access to eye protection.

Businesses that don’t plan to have an event but still want to engage:

• Sell Eclipse merchandise.
• Decorate your window or storefront.
• Have a photo op area inside the building.
• Offer an Eclipse deal, special or program!

Businesses that plan to have an event (public or private):

• Area schools are closed that day, so crowds will be busier than a normal Monday.
• If you will be staffed, & outside, during the Eclipse: Eye safety is very important - make sure all staff has access to the eye protection.
• Pre-purchased or ticketed events to understand the size of the gathering.
• Encourage all pre-sale purchases to GAS (or charge!) UP before arriving to your location.
• Hamilton County Tourism will have welcome & safety yard signs available for public events.
• Create an incident preparedness plan for this (or any!) event – what will you do in various emergency situations.
• Be weather prepared. It's spring and Indiana. Follow the National Weather Service.

RV Parking

• Bier Brewery, Carmel - free RV Parking – first come, first serve
• Four Day Ray, Fishers - $50/RV, call 317-343-0200 for reservation, no dump station, 16 parking spots
• Grand Park, Westfield - overnight RV and camper parking will be available for $100 from Sunday to Tuesday in a designated parking lot on Grand Park Sports Campus; no overnight parking will be available for non-RVs/Campers. You will NOT need an individual ticket per person. Please note EV charging is not available on-site.
• West Fork Whiskey, Westfield - RV Parking/camping on site for $450 overnight, with no electricity hook up

Traffic

Local agencies to follow for traffic updates:

• Hamilton County Government | Facebook | Twitter
• Hamilton County Emergency Management | Facebook | Twitter

Driving tips:

• Plan appropriately and use 511in.org for the latest traffic updates.
  • Leave early for destination
  • Pack plenty of snacks and water
  • Pack charging cables and cell phones
  • Fill gas tank and top off fluids
  • Check traffic conditions