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The Rochester Red Wings opened its stadium doors and the gates to Innovational Field as it hosted Solarpalooza, a $40/ticket event that the minor league team hosted for the community to view the solar eclipse. The team put on a variety of activities, including live music, craft stations, a photo booth, face painting, and autograph sessions throughout the day. After tailgating in the parking lot, as if it was a home game opener, attendees entered the stadium with smiles and anticipation for a total eclipse that last happened in Rochester 99 years ago. In addition to wearing traditional Red Wings attire, many event-goers added some special eclipse flair with shirts or hats.

Team mascots Spike and Misty attracted children and their families with arms opened wide, ready for photos as TV News stations from around Rochester gathered attendees’ experiences with quick interviews. General Manager Dan Mason, trotted around the field in an astronaut costume taking pictures with fans. Visitors occupied their time by eating popcorn and Dip-n-Dots as families played card games and engaged in conversations waiting for the sky to darken. The band Skycoasters performed covers of popular radio songs as couples danced along.

As totality crept closer, people settled in their seats and took their glasses out. A quiet came over the crowd as the stadium lights began to shut off. When totality hit, there was a shiver throughout the crowd. Spectators started taking out their phones to record the darkness followed by an eruption of cheers.

Although the view of the moon and sun was blocked by a thick layer of clouds, some individuals still wore their glasses hoping to see the moon traveling over the sun.  When the sky began to lighten, and totality had passed, the majority of attendees immediately left. People packed up their belongings and threw their glasses away in overflowing trash cans. Hoping to avoid parking lot traffic, families hurried out the ballpark gate, just to return to another cloudy Rochester day.