Reus City Council announced on 11 May a full programme of activities and a special mobility and security plan for the total solar eclipse on 12 August. The city will set up a large observation area near Parc de la Festa, offering family activities and services.
The announcement was made by Reus Mayor Sandra Guaita, along with Josep Baiges, Councillor for Economic Promotion, Innovation and Knowledge, and Daniel Recasens, Councillor for Culture and Language Policy. They were joined by Carlos Garcia, an astrophysicist from Rovira i Virgili University, and Joan Dalmau, an engineer with experience at the European Space Agency. This total solar eclipse is an exceptional event, making Reus a key viewing location in Catalonia. The Generalitat de Catalunya has identified Reus as one of 20 recommended observation points.
The single large observation point at Parc de la Festa will centralise all services and planned activities. It will include toilets, food trucks, family entertainment, and educational programmes for all ages. Due to the expected high number of visitors, the City Council urges everyone to follow security and mobility instructions and to leave the site gradually after the eclipse to avoid traffic congestion.
Educational and Cultural Events
The programme, organised by Reus City Council, includes educational, cultural, and scientific activities. These are developed in collaboration with Rovira i Virgili University, astronomy specialists, science communicators, and professionals in space research and exploration. The entire programme is supported by the Tarragona Provincial Council and the Generalitat de Catalunya.
On the day of the announcement, a conference titled “Que res t’eclipsi!” ('Let nothing eclipse you!') was held at FiraReus Events, led by Joan Dalmau. This event focused on the solar eclipse and scientific vocations. Other planned activities include two days of public lectures by URV researchers and astrophysicists on 10 and 17 June, exhibitions, film screenings, astronomical photography workshops, family activities, and educational sessions in city schools.
Educational talks, such as “Quan el sol s’amaga: el secret dels eclipsis” ('When the sun hides: the secret of eclipses'), will be given by photographer, naturalist, and environmental educator Pep Aguadé at La Vitxeta and Sant Josep schools. The programme also features several activities linked to International Museum Day.
Museum and Library Contributions
The Reus Museum will host “Sota un mateix cel” ('Under the same sky'), a photographic exhibition by Jesús Maria Flores García, showcasing night landscapes and astronomical photography. Additionally, the museum will offer public lectures like “L’eclipsi del segle” ('The eclipse of the century') with Joan Anton Català, outdoor cinema screenings of Gravity and Apollo XIII, technical conferences on eclipse photography, practical workshops, and family activities such as the “Planetari Bombolla” (Bubble Planetarium).
The Xavier Amorós Central Library is also participating with educational and cultural events, including “Vi, glosa i estrelles” ('Wine, gloss and stars'), talks on astronomy and eclipses, children's activities inside an inflatable planetarium, and a bibliographic display dedicated to the universe and astronomical phenomena. The full programme is available on eclipsicatalunya.cat/agenda-activitats and reus.cat.
Safety Guidelines for Observation
The City Council stresses the importance of observing the eclipse safely. Looking directly at the Sun without approved protection can cause severe and permanent eye damage. Therefore, it is recommended to use only solar filter glasses certified under ISO 12312-2, telescopes equipped with proper solar filters, or indirect observation methods like the pinhole system. All safety recommendations, along with eclipse visibility maps and other tools, can be found on eclipsicatalunya.cat.
