TOURISM IN TOTALITY : NORTH AMERICA 2024

Dance, gawk or run in the dark - but don't look directly at the sun : From the beaches of Mazatlan, Mexico, to the rugged coves of Maberly, NewFoundland, the sky will be the stage on April 8 as a total solar eclipse sweeps across North America.

This year, the moon will be near its closest point to Earth, resulting in an unusually wide swath and long-lasting totality.

Mexico, Canada and 13 U.S. states will greet the darkness  with celebrations.

The Portal Eclipse Festival in Mazatlan promises ''spiritual growth'' through D.J.s, yoga and more.

NASA will be broadcasting from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where $15 will get you admission to a festival and eclipse glasses called, fittingly, the Greatest Spectacles.

On the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, Cosmologists Without Borders will offer space themed programs.

And if you're game to run with a headlamp, consider a race in Millinocket, Maine. [ Danielle Dowling ]