By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS (AP Business Writer)
NEW YORK (AP) — Beer, jewelry, ornaments, and doughnuts have been designed to capture the disappearance of the sun with buttercream frosting to celebrate the upcoming eclipse. Many businesses are ready for the event that will darken skies across North America on April 8. The eclipse-themed doughnuts will feature buttercream frosting to represent the sun's disappearing act.
With The total solar eclipse on April 8 is approaching, and businesses are getting ready for this celestial event. Businesses are getting prepared for the celestial event that will darken skies across North America. The total solar eclipse in April will darken skies along a path across North America.
There are plenty of special safety glasses for sale that are designed for eclipse viewing, along with T-shirts and souvenirs, just like the last time the U.S. experienced a total solar eclipse in 2017. Hotels and resorts along the path of the eclipse are attracting visitors with special packages, and Southwest and Delta are selling seats on flights for eclipse viewing. Additionally, cities, museums, and parks are hosting watch parties to attract tourists and locals. There are plenty of special eclipse safety glasses for sale, along with T-shirts emblazoned with clever slogans and other souvenirs—just like the last total solar eclipse in 2017. Hotels and resorts along the path of the eclipse are luring visitors with special packages, and airlines like Southwest and Delta are selling seats on flights for eclipse viewing. In addition, cities, museums, and parks are hosting watch parties to attract tourists and locals, just as they did during the last U.S. total solar eclipse in 2017. Hotels and resorts along the eclipse path are offering special packages to attract visitors, and Southwest and Delta are selling seats on flights for eclipse viewing. In addition, cities, museums, and parks are hosting watch parties to attract tourists and locals, just as they did during the last U.S. total solar eclipse in 2017.
There are plenty of hotels and resorts along the eclipse path attracting visitors with special packages, and Southwest and Delta are selling seats on flights for eclipse viewing. Additionally, cities, museums, and parks are hosting watch parties to attract tourists and locals. prime path Hotels and resorts along the eclipse path are attracting visitors with special packages, and Southwest and Delta are selling seats on eclipse-viewing flights. Meanwhile, cities, museums, and parks are hosting watch parties to draw in tourists and residents. Cities, museums, and parks are planning watch parties to attract tourists and locals to the celestial event. Cities, museums, and parks are hosting watch parties to attract tourists and residents to the eclipse event.
Jie Zhang, a marketing professor at the University of Maryland’s business school, expressed that the travel industry is in a good position for this special event. She also noted that the eclipse craze is happening at a time when consumers are spending more on new experiences.
Closer to the eclipse day, there will likely be more special products and promotions from national brands, such as Moon Pie’s “eclipse survival kit,” which includes four mini versions of the chocolate snack and two pairs of eclipse glasses.
Small businesses within the 115-mile-wide (185-kilometer-wide) path of totality for the eclipse seem to be at the forefront so far, as they have created a wide range of creative, limited-edition merchandise like earrings, baby onesies, ornaments, games, banners, and more.
Some towns and business owners have been expecting the celestial event and large crowds for years.
After the 2017 eclipse, Sam McNulty, co-founder of Market Garden Brewery in Cleveland, marked his calendar. This time, Cleveland is in the path of the eclipse and will see nearly four minutes of dimmed skies.
Last year, McNulty’s team brewed a hazy IPA called “The Totality” to generate interest in the eclipse. The on tap debut was successful, and the brewery soon partnered with local grocer Heinen's to collaborate on a canned product.
In the coming weeks, they plan to release “thousands and thousands” of cans, as they felt it was important to go big due to the rarity of the event. Cleveland won’t be in the path of totality again until 2444.
Sam McNulty joked that he doesn't want to wait 420 years to brew the next batch of cans, so they made a very large batch this time.
In addition to beer, Big Cuppa, a coffee shop in Morrilton, Arkansas, has a full eclipse menu that includes specialty drinks like the “Moon Pie Frappa” flavored with dark chocolate and toasted marshmallow.
Big Cuppa co-owner Joseph Adam Krutz is looking forward to welcoming customers and new faces visiting the town next month. His shop, along with other businesses in downtown Morrilton, has been preparing for a while, and he sees a countdown clock each day as a reminder of the approaching event.
Krutz said they are ready and eager for the event to happen.
The Donut Dude in Ohio’s Butler County will offer an “Eclipse Donut Special” displaying the eclipse stages as the sun disappears behind the moon, along with providing safety glasses for watching the event.
The special will be available later this month and includes seven filled-doughnuts with rolled buttercream, two galaxy-themed cake doughnuts, and safety glasses for viewing the event while enjoying the doughnuts.
Co-owner Glen Huey said they are expecting to have a lot of fun.
Since the doughnut shop is closed on Mondays, Huey is excited to watch the spectacle as it passes over his town between Cincinnati and Dayton.
In Texas, there is a high likelihood of clear skies, and the state is anticipating a surge in tourists. Eateries in the town of Grapevine are offering various specials, including a “Blackout Dinner” at Hotel Vin and a “Solar Eclipse Shake” at Son of a Butcher.
Numerous businesses along the path of totality are hosting special events leading up to the eclipse.
New York’s Cayuga Lake Wine Trail is promoting “Sips to the Eclipse” for the weekend preceding April 8, where guests can visit 10 wineries for tastings and enjoy additional features like an eclipse eve tarot card reading, special slushies, and half-moon cookies.
Katherine Chase, executive director of the wine trail, said the promotion was planned in anticipation of the influx of people to the Finger Lakes region for the eclipse.
She mentioned that wineries can offer different incentives to attract people to come.
