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Where did the time go?

The photo above was of the Buc-ee's groundbreaking ceremony in Hillsboro, held over a year ago on January 24th 2023. The large new operation is expected to open in early April 2024.

Buc-ee’s has stated in a previous press release that the 74,000 square foot Hillsboro location will employ more than 200 people and will have 120 gas pumps.  Hiring fairs have been held, and we have heard they are also bringing in a few of their experienced managers from other locations to work permanently at the Hillsboro location.

See progress photos of the interior and exterior below:

Buc-ee's isn't the only thing to get excited about.

It's almost eclipse time.

As of Friday, March 15th 2024, we are 23 days away.

This newsletter will mainly focus on the eclipse, and we will send out a regular newsletter next week to cover news, events, opportunities and business highlights.

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When Astronomy Magazine listed Hillsboro as one of the top 7 places in the world to view the Monday, April 8th 2024 eclipse, what choice did we have but to start planning?

The phones and emails started rolling in from eclipse tourists, scientists, photographers and the media, and five groups across Hillsboro and Hill County started meeting monthly beginning in October of 2022, and continue to meet monthly.

To date and from what we know, we have reservations from 49 of the 50 US States.

We also have international guests who have reserved their trips to Hillsboro; from Dubai, Tanzania, Germany (the short list) and many of these are scientists, astronomers and astro-photographers.

Is it a bit daunting? Well yes. Current estimates are that 20 to 60 thousand people could visit Hillsboro on the Monday of the eclipse.

On top of the expected visitors, we are also hearing that a very large percentage of locals are expecting to host family and friends to join them here.

Have we planned and prepared our city, citizens and businesses in a way that has been comprehensive, and thorough?

You betcha we have.

Hillsboro is being mentioned nationwide as being in the top tier of eclipse planners.

If you are still struggling to get in the eclipse mood, or aren't quite sure why this is such a big deal, please watch this week's Fort Worth Star Telegram video of our city manager explaining how Hillsboro is preparing.

Eclipse press coverage of Hillsboro has been significant over the past few months, with articles released (or soon to be released) from Texas Monthly, The Dallas Morning News, and many others. We even were included in a story from the South China Post

The heightened attention for Hillsboro goes well beyond, and will last much longer, than eclipse weekend.

An uptick in inquiries about our commercial and residential real estate is being seen.

We are seeing a particularly renewed interest in downtown Hillsboro's commercial buildings, which could add more interesting stores and businesses in the main street district.

Hillsboro is being placed on center stage, and people are seeing our community's "heart" and realizing that just maybe the quality of life in our area has big advantages to living in higher populated, amenity rich larger cities.

The quality and graciousness of our city and our people is being broadcast across the country and the world. They see us pulling together planning events and hospitality for guests in a creative way that isn't boasting we are something we aren't, but giving them a taste of what we truly are... which is a friendly and close-knit rural historic city. They also are hearing we are smart planners and exceptional people who are attending to the wide range of details necessary to adequately host very large events.

The attention, on top of the very exciting things that have, and have not yet been announced that are coming to Hillsboro, should attract the kind of growth and improvements that Hillsboro has dreamed about for years.

Here are some "behind the scenes" and bullet point information on what to expect April 4th through 8th:

* 200 portable restrooms will be placed in locations throughout the city

* Extra internet is being brought in to help keep cell service and connectivity for retailers and visitors happy

* There is a light pollution task force that is addressing street lighting for event and viewing locations around the city, to ensure when eclipse totality (darkness) arrives at 1:38 pm on Monday, April 8th 2024, that photo cells for lights do not turn the lights on and interfere with the eclipse viewing experience.

* Information maps for visitors will be placed at retail stores, hotels, restaurants, museums and gas stations throughout the city to assist visitors with city and event information during the eclipse, and give QR codes to the official Hillsboro eclipse visitor app and website. (This will alleviate highly impacted businesses from needing to provide concierge information to visitors during the busiest days).

* Beautification and cleanup efforts will be continual leading up to the eclipse. Businesses and volunteer groups are working with the city to have American flags lined up along high traffic areas of the city, eclipse themed light pole banners downtown, a menagerie of rocking chairs and picnic tables at downtown locations, and refreshed plants in the main street planters. How can you help? Call us to find volunteer opportunities, or merely make sure your areas are looking their best.

If you aren't brushed up on the basics of where Hillsboro will see the most visitors, these are the main locations with planned activities:

The Outlet Mall fronting Interstate 35 (Eclipseboro Landing)

The Cosmic Cowboy Eclipse Festival - Friday April 5th through Monday the 8th

Cosmic Cowboy Eclipse Festival will feature musicians Pat Green, Chris Janson, Kevin Fowler, The Marshall Tucker Band, Bellamy Brothers, Jake Worthington, Uncle Lucius and Creed Fisher. There are also A list local bands playing, including Ghosts of Hill County and Chris Perez. The location of the concert is the north outlet mall, and tickets are highly sought after. $225 all-festival pass, $85 Friday and Saturday, $100 Sunday, $20 Monday, online at cosmiccowboyeclipsefest.com. Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m. Monday. See ticket information at this link.

Eclipse Carnival at Eclipseboro Landing - Thursday, April 4th through Monday the 8th

Visitors and Locals are invited to enjoy the big big carnival that features rides, midway games and concessions. Located on the south tract of the outlet mall fronting Interstate 35. there will be carnival rides, midway games, and concessions from Triple T Amusements. Carnival days and hours are: Thurs., April 4 open 5pm, Fri., April 5 open 4pm, Sat., April 6 open 1pm, Sun., April 7 open 1pm, Mon., April 8 open 10am Free parking until Monday, and the event is free to enter, but tickets will be needed to enjoy the rides.

Wallace Park (Eclipseboro Park) just north of downtown on State Highway 81

Rural, pastoral, and family-friendly. this is a ticketed event, and tent camping is being offered Thursday through Tuesday – with only a few spots left. Tent camping, food trucks and vendors will be at Wallace Park during the eclipse weekend, and there is a star party on Friday, and an Astro photographer's zone and eclipse viewing on the Monday of the eclipse. Eclipseboro Park is a pre-reserved viewing location for guests during the eclipse.

The Friday night Star Party is a collaboration by Eclipseboro, Hill College, the Dubai Astronomy Group, and retired National Park Astronomy Ranger Larry Smith, with assistance from Boy Scouts.

Downtown Hillsboro (Main Street Eclipseboro)

Eclipse weekend will begin on Thursday night downtown, with Starlight Bar Night - a pre party for locals from 6 pm to 10 pm to kick off the weekend and celebrate together before the heavy crowds arrive. There will be a jazz quintet at Overflow Coffee, Space themed Karaoke at Wranglers, a mobile planetarium at Historic City Hall, Sci-fi and Astronomy trivia at Branded Burger, outdoor movies at the Hillsboro Truck Yard, and a "paint an eclipse scene" with wine and champagne bar at the Eagle Historic Warehouse downtown. All of the events offer free entry, except the painting event. See more info at this link.

On April 4th through 8th downtown you can expect food trucks, mobile bars, lawn games on the courthouses square, a storybook walk, nightlife, photo ops, and pop up vendors like the Hillsboro Lion's Club, which will be set up near the Old Corner Gulf Station (near the Willie Nelson mural) on Monday, to sell "willie dogs" and "moonshine" served in commemorative Hillsboro Eclipse 2024 cups. (too cute!)

On Saturday, April 6th, the Hillsboro Arts League will be hosting a Sip & Stroll through downtown that features different artists in locations downtown. Each location will also feature an adult beverage for tasting as you make your way through Hillsboro's historic main street district.

Both of our downtown museums will be open during the eclipse weekend, and if you haven't yet experienced them, you are missing out. Roadside America and Texas Through Time get national and international visitors regularly, and are expecting a large amount of visitors on eclipse weekend. Roadside America will be open to host tours of the classic car and memorabilia museum, and Texas Through Time has an incredible lineup of museum events on eclipse weekend that you can see here.

Hillsboro Country Club

The golf course and clubhouse hosts will give visitors an exclusive and uncrowded experience on their 80-acre site, offering 360 views from the greens, room to spread out and find a viewing spot from a golf cart shuttle, and guests will enjoy an upscale brunch and bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. This is a ticketed event, with more information at this link.

Lake Whitney Events

The Whitney events we know about so far, are at Lake Whitney State Park, and White Bluff Resort. Interestingly, the state park opened ticket sales recently, and sold out the same day.

White Bluff Resort will be hosting a three day eclipse festival reserved for residents of White Bluff, friends, family, and guests who have reservations at the inn, cabins and condos. Golf play on both courses will be available, along with daily live entertainment, Star Parties, a 2 person scramble, pickleball tournament, disc frisbee, and a craft show is also planned. At this time, lodging is still available, but White Bluff is expected to sell out of rooms soon, so if you are a resident with guests coming, please have them reserve their rooms quickly.

If you want to see the full details of all the local events and info, visit the official Hillsboro eclipse website at www.eclipseboro.com.

Have your Eclipse Glasses?

Buying online eclipse glasses is strongly discouraged. Eyes need to last a lifetime, and unverified online retailers are a risky choice for eclipse watchers.

The Hillsboro Chamber and City of Hillsboro have the certified safe ISO and AAS recommended glasses for sale for $2.00 each. Stop by the Chamber to pick yours up. If you are ordering quantities of 50 or more, we will hand deliver them to you. Email us your order at this link, or call 254-582-2481.

To pick up eclipse glasses, the Chamber is located in downtown Hillsboro in the historic MKT railroad depot building behind the post office at 115 North Covington.

Other details on eclipse glasses:

• No strength of sunglasses will protect your eyes.

• Do not view the eclipse directly through your phone, camera, telescope or binoculars.

• Planning on using your welding helmet? According to NASA, the only welder helmets that are safe for direct viewing of the Solar Eclipse are helmets that have a Shade 12 or higher. Shade 12 is much darker than the filters used on most welding helmets.

If you have a well loved rocker that you will sell or loan to the ladies in Hillsboro planning downtown beautification and hospitality efforts, please call us at 254-582-2481.

The rockers will be placed in areas of downtown as an especially quaint addition to our eclipse event on Monday, April 8th 2024, and any that are collected as "loaners" will be returned to the Chamber on Monday late afternoon, and will be available for pickup on the days following the eclipse.

Just imagine the photos that will make their way around the world of the downtown crowds, showcasing Hillsboro's hospitality.

A special thank you to the ladies that have met weekly on Monday evenings to plan and produce this, and many other beautification efforts and finishing touches for our city.

Maybe, just maybe, we will be able to get new photos of downtown Hillsboro during the eclipse that will rival ones from our past.

Our community calendar is getting very full- see the full calendar at this link.

Highlighted Business and Easter events on the calendar are listed below:

Business Events:

March 20th: Career Fair for High School Seniors hosted at Hill College.

March 28th: The Manager's Breakfast at Hill College for Manufacturing & Industry

April 11th: Lake Whitney Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet

April 12th: The Bobcat Clay Shoot, benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of Hill County

April 25th: The Hill County Summit, featuring lunch and speaker economist Ray Perryman

May 10th: The Hillsboro Chamber Golf Classic - am and pm flights, and evening concert

Easter Events:

March 17th: Spring Fling and Easter Egg Hunt at The Place at Lake Whitney

March 23rd: Easter Egg Hunt and Food Drive at Town Hall Estates in Whitney

March 29th: Easter Festival at Homestead Nursing and Rehabilitation

March 29th: The Black Light Easter Egg Hunt at Hillsboro City Park - 8pm

March 30th: Community Wide Easter Block Party at Old City Park in Hillsboro -10 am

Have an Easter event you don't see here? Add it to our calendar at this link

Other Community Promotions:

Thank for you for reading our newsletter.

Before you go, check out these other local links:

The Hillsboro Area Jobs Board (add your jobs for free)

See Chamber Resources, Data, and Learning Tools for Businesses

Add your event to the Hillsboro Chamber Community Calendar

Visit the official Hillsboro Eclipse website

Supporting our local businesses is one of the best ways you can help build local strength and our economy. See local tradesmen, retail, industrial, and service provider businesses by clicking here.

follow the Chamber on facebook or Instagram to get real time updates

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