Here are 13 ways to enjoy Eclipse Day food truck gatherings and restaurant specials

EVANSVILLE − The long-awaited total solar eclipse is coming up on Monday, April 8, and there are many choices of events where you can experience the rare phenomenon, grab a great lunch or munchies from a special restaurant event, or enjoy a gathering of food trucks.

All listed events happen on April 8 unless otherwise noted.

Total Solar Eclipse in Downtown Evansville

The Downtown Evansville eclipse viewing will happen on the Evansville riverfront from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Food trucks will include Bruce Li, JB's Barnyard, JT's American Food on the Fly, Kona Ice, Lashbrooke's Barbecue, Rock-A-Burger, and Uncle G's Lemon Smashers.

If you plan to spend the afternoon Downtown, grab an Eclipse Explorer Passport at any participating business, such as Lic's, Posh on Main, and River Kitty Cat Cafe, visit the nine participating businesses and collect stamps for prize drawings.

The Downtown Evansville eclipse viewing will be on the Evansville riverfront.

Total Eclipse Day at the Reitz Home in Evansville

Total Eclipse Day will happen at the Reitz Home Museum from 1-4 p.m. A full bar and appetizers (while supplies last) will be provided by Entwined Wine & Cocktail Bar; there will be a DJ, photo booth, and Reitz Home Museum memberships may be purchased for 50% off.

The Reitz Home is at 112 Chestnut St.; 812-426-1871.

Nature’s Greatest Sight: Total eclipse in Wesselman Park, Evansville

Nature's Greatest Sight: Total Eclipse will happen at the former Par 3 Golf Course at Wesselman Park from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Look for live music and other activities all day. Food trucks will include Acropolis Express, Grace of Christ Church Mission in Ukraine, Jeanne's Gelato on the Go, Juicy Butts BBQ, Kim's Chuck Wagon, Nathan's Famous Food Truck, Peace 4U Hospitality, and Taste Buds.

Wesselman Park is at 551 N. Boeke Road.

Solarpalooza at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville

The University of Southern Indiana's Solarpalooza will begin on Sunday, April 7, with astronaut Joan Higginbotham speaking on "Breaking Barriers: An Astronaut's Inspiring & Winding Road to Space," and continue on Monday morning at 8 a.m. with presentations by University staff and fun and educational activities all day.

Food trucks will include Brisket Biscuit, Bowlify Super Foods, Dawgs on the Ohio, Chino Taco, Steve's Oink-N-Squeel BBQ, Paradise Pizza and Kona Ice. Sign up here to attend Solarpalooza. The first 10,000 attendees get free eclipse viewing glasses.

Solarpalooza will happen on the USI campus at 8600 University Blvd.

USS LST 325 Eclipse viewing party in Evansville

The LST 325 will host an eclipse viewing event from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on board the ship. Tickets are limited. Guests will receive one pair of eclipse viewing glasses and pizza and macarons from Pangea Pizzeria, served with a drink from noon-2 p.m., a guided tour of the ship, and viewing of the eclipse from the main deck. Tickets are $35 for members and $50 for non-members.

The USS LST 325 is at 610 NW Riverside Drive.

Eclipse Solarbration at Old National Events Plaza - Evansville

The Old National Events Plaza will have a pop-up restaurant serving meals and hosting special events in the Locust Lounge from Friday, April 5-Sunday, April 7. Friday will be Singo Night with dinner and bar service, Bingo and Singo. Saturday will be Cosmic Karaoke Night with lunch, dinner, bar service, live music from 2-6 p.m. and karaoke. Sunday will be Trivia Night with dinner and bar service, live music from 4-6 p.m. and trivia.

The Old National Events Plaza is at 715 Locust St. For the Locust Lounge, enter from doors 1 and 2 on Locust Street.

Prime Time Pub & Grill in Newburgh

Prime Time Pub and Grill will host an eclipse viewing party beginning at 11 a.m. There will be free eclipse viewing glasses while supplies last, food and drink specials, kids' activities, a best "galactic" themed dress contest and more.

The Prime Time Pub & Grill in Newburgh is at 8177 W. Bell Oaks Drive in Newburgh, Indiana; 812-490-0655.

Total Eclipse of the Park - Newburgh/Paradise

Total Eclipse of the Park will happen at the Friedman Park amphitheater in Newburgh, Indiana, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tailgate Revival will be on the stage, there will be a beer garden, and food trucks including Kona Ice, JB's Barnyard, La Plaza, Nathan's Famous Franchise, the Barrel House, and Nicholson's Old Fashioned. Also look for kids' activities, a cornhole tournament, and more.

The cost to enter is $10 per car.

Get advance parking passes here.

Friedman Park is at 2888 Anderson Road, Newburgh, Indiana.

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at Henderson Community College

The Solar Eclipse viewing party at Henderson Community College will happen from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mr. D's food truck will be on hand, and there will be a showing of Little Shop of Horrors from 10 a.m.-noon in the Sullivan Technology Center with light refreshments. The college's telescope will be available for a close-up look at the sky during the eclipse. Eclipse glasses will be available to all attendees while supplies last, and there will be more at the campus bookstore for purchase.

The Henderson Community College is at 2660 S. Green St., Henderson, Ky.

Track the Eclipse at Ellis Park - Henderson, Ky.

Track the Eclipse will happen at Ellis Park from noon-3 p.m. The first 100 people will get free eclipse glasses. Savory and sweet foods will be available for purchase. Food trucks include Sweeney's Weenies, Trappin Chick'n, PeeWee's Soul Food, BBQ Hawgs & Dawgs, Cinia's Salvadorian Kitchen, and Old Fashioned Ice Cream and Concessions.

Ellis Park is at 3300 U.S. 41 in Henderson, Kentucky.

View from the Vineyard in Spottsville, Kentucky

Boucherie Winery will host View from the Vineyard beginning at 10 a.m. Enjoy wine from the winery while you watch the eclipse from the peaceful countryside just east of Henderson.

Boucherie Winery is at 8529 Keyway Drive, Spottsville, Kentucky.

Eclipse on the Ohio - Mount Vernon

Eclipse on the Ohio will happen at Riverfront Park in Mount Vernon, Indiana, from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. There will be changing live music all day starting at 10 a.m. Food vendors will include 3 Chicks Fudgery, Bode's Shaved Ice, DiMaggio's Pizza, Little Boondocks Concessions, Little Jimmy's Italian Ice and Concessions, Rickett's Concessions, Sabor Colombia, Season's Creations, Shortstacks Kitchen, Sugar Shack, and The Zone by MaryScott's.

Additionally, there will be more than two dozen non-food and outreach vendors with everything from pet adoptions to information about non-profit organizations.

Eclipse on the Ohio will be at 111 Water St. in Mount Vernon, Indiana.

Eclipse in New Harmony

The Eclipse in New Harmony event will happen all weekend from Friday, April 5 - Monday, April 8.

This handy graphic on Visit Posey County's Facebook page will help guide you through special restaurant hours and food offerings.

Look for extended hours at local restaurants and coffee shops, Uncle Ted's Just Dang Good Food truck at Lowry Hollow on Sunday all day, meals served at the Ribeyre Gymnasium and the Kiwanis Club on Sunday and Monday, special activities at Harmonie State Park (make a sun-powered hot dog cooker), live music, and other activities such as a scavenger hunt, Historic New Harmony weekend tour passes, a ticketed watch party at the Atheneum Visitor Center from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Monday, and more.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Food and restaurant special deals for eclipse day in Evansville