What Happens After the Steele County Fair in 2017?

Probably safe to say that something is set to occur right after the conclusion of this year's Steele County Free Fair that's never happened before so close to the fair. This summer's fair runs August 15-20. There are always so many things to see, do and talk about during the fair. One hot topic this summer at the fair is sure to be the total solar eclipse that will take place across the U.S. on the day after the fair, August 21.

The last total solar eclipse in our nation took place in February 1979, more than 38 years ago. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is directly between the sun and Earth and casts a shadow on Earth. To experience the 100 percent blackout, one would need to travel down to the far corner of Iowa. The eclipse will appear in Oregon where the people out there will actually see the sun rise as the eclipse begins. The total effect will then be experienced in a line from Oregon angling down to the southeast to South Carolina. People in Nashville will experience two minutes of total blackout.

In our area, Minneapolis will experience about an 83 percent blackout when the eclipse reaches its zenith.

Six days of Steele County Free Fair fun followed by a total solar eclipse. The next solar eclipse in the United States won't occur till 2024.