Eclipse had all eyes on the sky in Cambridge this afternoon

A thick blanket of clouds was no match for the celestial event of the century.

Less than half an hour before today's solar eclipse began, overcast skies threatened to spoil the show.

Yuri Manahan looked out the window in Hespeler just before his family got in the car to come to Galt, saw overcast sky, and thought they wouldn't see much during their planned visit to an eclipse party at the Old Post Office Idea Exchange.

But during the 20 minute drive in, the clouds parted to bright blue sky and radiant sun just as the moon's shadow made first contact. 

The Manahans joined dozens of families at the Idea Exchange terrace overlooking the Grand River where library manager Valerie Wettlaufer was busy making sure the popular viewing area didn't exceed capacity.

Despite the view from Waterloo region falling outside of the path of totality, Cambridge residents stepped outside en masse to check out this afternoon's spectacle, touted as a once-in-a-lifetime event since the next solar eclipse won't be seen in totality in this area for another 120 years.

"At least the weather is wonderful," Wettlaufer said amid the crowd holding eclipse glasses up to view the moon make its slow transition across the sun. 

Mick Chow was prepared to drive to the path of totality in Niagara Region until he heard about the anticipated road closures as millions of eclipse viewers descended on the tourist mecca.

Instead he decided on Cambridge, figuring it's close enough and not worth the hassle.

During the few minutes the moon covered 99 per cent of the sun, the temperature dipped slightly, the sky darkened to a twilight hue, and the streetlights flickered on. Then it was over.