Adler Planetarium offers free admission on Monday for solar eclipse

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Adler Planetarium in Chicago is offering free admission on Monday for the historic solar eclipse.

Adler will also host a block party, Chicago's Eclipse Fest, that will be free. Attendees will also receive solar viewing glasses to safely view the solar event.

The event will feature educational activities, entertainment, hands-on science activities, outdoor obstacle courses and food trucks.

Inside the museum, guests can check out their newest exhibition, Chasing Eclipses.

Guests will also be treated to a live-feed of the total solar eclipse from locations that are in the path of totality in the Adler's immersive Grainger Sky and Definiti Space theaters. Regular sky shows will be available at a reduced price of only $5 with a special eclipse show available for $2.

The total solar eclipse will be visible in parts of the United States for the first time since 1979. In Chicago, at 11:54 am. CST, the moon will start to block our view of the Sun, covering up to 87 percent of it by 1:19 p.m.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

-"Mad Science" show live on stage - beginning at 10:30 a.m.

-"Ask an Astronomer!" FAQ sessions (throughout the day)

-Visit from Chicago Cubs mascot Clark - 11 a.m.

-Observing 101: An eclipse viewing demonstration - 11:15 a.m.

-Live coverage from NASA from cities experiencing the eclipse in totality - beginning on the main stage at 11:45 a.m.

-The Moon begins to block the Sun - 11:54 a.m.

-Guests see the peak of the Chicago eclipse when the Moon will cover 87 percent of the Sun - 1:19 p.m.

-Eclipse trivia at the main stage - 12:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m.

-Fun in the Sun: A solar oven building demonstration by Kyle Sater, Manager of Program Development - 4:15 p.m.

-Closing announcements by Nick Lake, Presentation Leader - 5:45 p.m.

ALL DAY EVENTS

-Entertainment by Jim & the Povolos, DJ Lani Love and DJ Chess Hubbard

-Design challenges including solar car races, making solar ovens, and creating pinhole projectors

-Solar science demonstrations including UV beads, a sundial station and sun prints

-Fun for our littlest guests including bubbles, sensory activities, and light and shadow activities

-Carnival fun including giant Jenga, a jumbo bounce house, gladiator obstacle course, giant parachute, jumbo ladder toss, bean bag toss, and a sandbag game

-Telescope viewing, a selfie station, rocket fun and more

Adler Planetarium is located at 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr. in Chicago.

For more information about Adler's eclipse-day plans, visit their Solar Eclipse page.

Live coverage of the eclipse will run from noon to 2 p.m. on ABC7, abc7chicago.com and https://www.facebook.com/abc7chicago/.