As the much-anticipated total solar eclipse approaches, small towns across Texas are gearing up for the influx of visitors and the potential impact of overcast skies on Monday's cosmic event. In Waxahachie, a town with a population of 45,000, the last total solar eclipse occurred nearly 150 years ago, and the community is eagerly preparing for the upcoming phenomenon. Businesses in the area are hosting eclipse-themed events and expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors to witness the 4 minutes and 20 seconds of totality.

Despite the weather forecast predicting cloudy skies, residents and business owners remain hopeful that the clouds will clear in time for the eclipse. The Ellis County Museum's Suzette Pylant expressed her gratitude for being able to witness the event from the comfort of her own home, while shops around the historic courthouse are bracing for the surge in visitors. The Oily Bar Soapery is hosting a Bubble Blackout event featuring eclipse-themed soaps, and the Celebrity Cafe and Bakery is preparing for a large breakfast crowd.

Further north in Williamson County, residents are also preparing for the eclipse at the River Ranch County Park, which opened in July and is already sold out for the event. Main Street Marketplace owner Stacie Kenyon is inviting people to watch the eclipse from her boutique in Liberty Hill's historic downtown, with a backup plan in case of rain. Despite the uncertainty of the weather, visitors like Ed Yuhara and his wife, Paula, are determined to celebrate the rare event. Totality won't sweep across the U.S. like this again until 2045, making this a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many.