People are invited to attend the solar eclipse viewing party from 2 to 4 p.m. on the Barrington Town Hall lawn on Monday, April 8. 

“We will have free eclipse glasses (first come first serve) available for attendees both on the Town Hall Lawn and in the Library,” stated a release from the Barrington Public Library. “Guests are welcome to gather on the Town Hall Lawn to view the eclipse. Those interested in viewing a live stream of the full eclipse can stop by the Salem Family Auditorium anytime during the viewing party. We will also have a few VR headsets to view the 2017 total eclipse.”

Meanwhile at Barrington Public Schools, district officials will distribute protective eye glasses to all students and staff during the school day. 

“We are asking all students to please wear the glasses upon leaving school,” stated a release from the high school. 

“For students participating in sports and after-school activities, we are planning to schedule practices either indoors or later in the afternoon to prevent any unnecessary exposure to the sun's UV rays.”

According to a press release from the Rhode Island Department of Health, looking directly at the sun can cause permanent eye damage. 

“The sun’s ultraviolet rays can permanently damage the retinal tissue in your eyes, called solar retinopathy. Even small crescents of the sun are intense enough to cause a retinal burn. There are no pain receptors in the retina, so your retina can be damaged before you realize it or feel any pain.”

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth — when the moon completely blocks the sun, it is called a total solar eclipse.