Dutch couple makes trip to Texas for fourth solar eclipse
Noud Oomens and Ceciel Plegt came to Marble Falls to watch the total solar eclipse after traveling from the Netherlands. (KXAN photo/Will DuPree)
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MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) — Even though the day is starting off cloudy in the Hill Country, people from all over the U.S. and the world are gathering in downtown Marble Falls to try and catch a glimpse of the four minutes and 13 seconds of totality of the total solar eclipse.
Noud Oomens and Ceciel Plegt traveled from the Netherlands to Austin to watch the solar eclipse, the fourth trip they’ve taken to see an eclipse. They picked Marble Falls as their spot after driving around the area Sunday to see what might be the best place. Oomens said this trip came as a birthday gift to Plegt.
To keep crowds in downtown Marble Falls Monday, Cheryl Westerman helped spearhead a block party on Main Street with several other business owners. Westerman owns Ms. Lollipop Parties Fun & Gifts, a well-known candy and ice cream shop. The event she organized will feature live music, vendors and food trucks.
She is also selling a number of eclipse souvenirs, including mugs, stickers and shirts. She renamed the ice cream flavors to reflect the celestial event, like moon tracks and banana moon pie. She set up a space in the back of her store where people can also take a picture in front of a tinsel wall with moon and star balloons along with a sign reading, “Totally Mooned.” Customers can even put on an alien mask to snap a photo.
The owner of Ms. Lollipop organized a block party to mark the eclipse and draw people to Marble Falls. (KXAN photo/Will DuPree) 
Cheryl Westerman, the owner of Ms. Lollipop, set up an area where people can take pictures to mark their trip to Marble Falls for the eclipse. (KXAN photo/Will DuPree) 
Cheryl Westerman, the owner of Ms. Lollipop, set up an area where people can take pictures to mark their trip to Marble Falls for the eclipse. (KXAN photo/Will DuPree) 
The Ms. Lollipop shop created eclipse souvenirs for tourists to buy. (KXAN photo/Will DuPree) 
The Ms. Lollipop shop created eclipse souvenirs for tourists to buy. (KXAN photo/Will DuPree) 
Cheryl Westerman changed the names of the ice cream in her shop to reflect the celestial event. (KXAN photo/Will DuPree)
Westerman said she’s asking customers where they’re visiting from when they come into her shop. She’s met people from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and dozens of other states.
The City of Marble Falls closed its public facilities Monday, and the Marble Falls Independent School District called off school for the day, too.
