Celebrate The Solar Eclipse With Onslow’s Jam-Packed Calendar Of Events

If there’s one thing we know our beloved Perth is OK! readers are interested in, it’s astronomical anomalies! 2023 is a corker for the astronomically enthused, with a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse taking place – and the Pilbara coast will be one of the best places on earth to view the phenomenon!

Venturing north for an eclipse adventure? Between April 15 and 22, Onslow will be celebrating all things solar eclipse with a week-long festival, with a jam-packed calendar of free and ticketed events for the whole family, check the flyer and learn a little more about each, below:

Markets at the Visitors Centre

Kick things off with a visit to the Onslow Markets, located at the Visitor’s Centre. Running across multiple dates between 8AM and 12PM, browse locally handmade clothing, homewares and more – plus there’ll be a selection of food trucks on hand to keep you fuelled!

Welcome to Town Pool Party

Say g’day to Onslow at the most popular spot in town – the pool! Entry is free to the Welcome To Town Pool Party, and as well as diving into the delicious eats on offer, you’ll be able to enjoy the soothing sounds of a live acoustic set by The Flying Submarine’s Jimmy Cutz while you splash.

Cinema Under The Stars

While the eclipse will be taking place on April 20, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the wide open majesty of the sky beforehand! On the first evening of the festival (April 15), the Thalanyji Oval will transform into an outdoor cinema under the stars – and it’s free! Pack a delicious picnic, grab a picnic blanket and a few friends and relax under the spectacular night sky.

Solar Eclipse Street Party

The main event deserves a big ol’ party to celebrate! This huge (and free) event will take over the Onslow Foreshore from 10AM to 10PM – kicking off at the start of the partial eclipse and partying into the night. Along with a market of tasty food stalls and local wares, there’ll be live music and DJs galore, including beloved WA folk outfit and event headliners, The Waifs. And while the eclipse is the star of the show, later in the evening the spectacle continues with a dazzling fireworks display over Beadon Bay.

Family Fun Day in Onslow

After your big day of fun at the street party, keep the good times going with an equally big day of family-friendly fun! The free event kicks off at 12PM, and will get the kids happily out of the sun with an arvo of indoor rock climbing, solar gazing through a powerful telescope and presentations by emergency service heroes.

Dark Sky Viewing & Stargazing

With all this chinwagging about eclipses and the sky, why not learn from the pros? This free event on Friday April 21 will unearth the secrets of our spectacular night skies as you peer through large telescopes, guided by the experts at Astrotourism WA. You’ll be able to see Mars and Venus close up, stunning star clusters, gas clouds within nebulas and the details of the Moon’s mammoth craters.

Solar Eclipse Concert

Round out your week of solar celebrations with a huge free concert in the heart of Onslow! On Saturday April 22, Thalanyji Oval will host the biggest party of the week, with live music, food and plenty of fun – plus some killer headline acts including just-announced legends of WA music, Eskimo Joe.

Fervor Dark Sky Dining

Or, bookend your week with something a bit bougier! Fervor’s Paul Iskov is one of WA’s most celebrated chefs, utilising native ingredients in some of the state’s most remarkable and remote locations. For this special astronomically-inspired iteration, you’ll be dining under the night sky at Onslow Lookout (also known as Dreamers Hill) – one of the best stargazing locations on earth. Not only will you enjoy a meticulously crafted fine dining meal, a guest astronomer will also take you on a stargazing journey. A truly once in a lifetime experience! Find out more and grab your tickets here.

Have you booked your accommodation yet? Spots are filling up fast for eclipse-watching stays – if you’re a self-contained traveller, you can book overflow camping sites at the Onslow Ocean View Caravan Park here.

Header Image Credit: Shire of Ashburton / @dan_and_zora

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This article is sponsored by Shire of Ashburton and endorsed by us. Please see our Editorial Policy for more info.