FREDERICKSBURG, TX (KXAN) — While many people appeared to have changed plans in the days leading up the eclipse, those that did travel to Fredericksburg were rewarded with a moment of true awe.

“It was so surreal. You saw the light, and then it went dark. And it was just amazing,” said Maureen Okerstrom. She and her friends traveled from Florida to witness the event. We’ve been planning it for four months, we’ve been looking for campsites and places and everything was sold out.”

While many decided to change their plans, Maureen and her friend Dianne Caplin decided to stick with it. “We knew that we would be able to see something,” Diane said.

They were right. The clouds parted for a brief moment as the eclipse reached totality. The sun glistening through the canyons on the moon, provided one brief moment of wonder. One woman visiting from Colorado shouted “It’s amazing! It’s amazing!”

Maureen Okerstrom and her friends traveled from Florida for the big day. (Courtesy: Eric Henrikson/KXAN)

Then darkness. The clouds rolled overhead and deep twilight fell over the Arch Ray Resort where many had stationed themselves for the event. The crowd grew silent. Some cried. Others stared in wonder.

Four minutes later, light returned and celebrations kicked into gear. Amy Lase traveled from Nebraska to celebrate her birthday. The cake rolled out shortly after totality wrapped up.

“It’s like 30 pounds if you try to pick it up,” Lase said. Candles were blown out shortly after.

“It was light one moment and then dark the next and like the temperature dropped like 30 degrees. And it was just beautiful,” Lase said.

Despite the clouds, the faint glow of sunset fills the horizon around the Arch Ray Resort. (Credit: Eric Henrikson/KXAN)

Shane Baxter, owner of the Arch Ray Resort, said he expected many people to head to their music festival later that night on their way home.

“We’re like, ‘Hey, guys. Don’t worry about the traffic we got you come here and just hang out’,” Baxter said.

The Goo Goo Dolls, Switchfoot and Fastball are planned to take the stage later in the evening. For the people who traveled hundreds of miles for this event, the music served as the perfect capper to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“You’ve never seen that darkness like it was during the day at 1:30 in the afternoon. Amazing,” Okerstrom said with a smile stretched from ear to ear, already making plans to go to the next total solar eclipse in Spain in 2026.