Erie, Pennsylvania is a city of 90,000 people - similar to both Palmerston North and New Plymouth. But tomorrow the city, which sits an hour-and-a-half drive from Cleveland, Ohio, will swell to 200,000 people.
That is because Erie lies in 'the path of totality' for a total solar eclipse.
The rare eclipse will see the moon completely obscure the sun, and in Erie that will happen for almost four minutes - plunging the city into darkness.
Visiting the city for the first time, our Newshub team encountered plenty of excitement among visitors. Some had made long trips from Philadelphia (six-and-a-half-hour drive), others from other states like North Carolina and Missouri.
Erie's Mayor Joseph Schember said the city has been planning for the event since early last year.
"It really has been a long time coming, we have been preparing since January 2023, so that's a year and three months," he said.
But it is not just Erie seeing an influx of travellers. Thirteen US states will be in the path of totality. Thirty-one million people live within them, but millions of others are driving in.
Data shows abnormally high occupancy rates for Airbnb listings across the path of totality.
The phenomenon is set to be a cash-cow for much of the country in the eclipse's path. Hotels are charging exorbitant rates, sometimes five times the cost of a usual night's stay.
We came across some people selling protective sunglasses, and even tents erected near busy roads, selling eclipse-related goods.
"We are selling shirts, unique prints, specifically for the eclipse, we got custom hats, and stickers right here," said John, who was hawking his eclipse merchandise from an Erie carpark.
It almost feels like the phenomenon is bringing a divided country together, seeing people from all states and backgrounds become excited. As one person told us today - there is no Republican eclipse or Democrat eclipse. It is one everyone can enjoy - even if it is for just a few minutes.
