MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) — Even though the day started off cloudy in the Hill Country, people from all over the U.S. and the world gathered in downtown Marble Falls to catch a glimpse of the four minutes and 13 seconds of totality of the 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.

“We first saw an eclipse in 1999 in Luxembourg in Europe, but that was really short. We couldn’t see it very well,” Oomens explained. “So then we went to Turkey in 2007 and organized it for a holiday. That was really amazing, impressing, so that’s what got us hooked. Now we are addicted to solar eclipses. We have also seen one in Oregon in 2017.”

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 featured live music, vendors and food trucks.

“I love providing entertainment and fun for the community and outside of the community, trying to figure out ways to bring people downtown,” Westerman said. “And Marble Falls, no one else was doing anything to give reason to be in Marble Falls, so for us businesses down here that’s what I’m always looking for.”

She also sold 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.

Westerman said it was fun keeping tracking of where customers are visiting from.

“We had Hong Kong (and) New York — just spoke with someone from New York this morning,” Westerman said. “Yesterday, London — actually several places in England. We had three big groups from England come through yesterday, and Ireland, Las Vegas, Ohio — I could go on and on.”

Lawrence Bizzarro and his family came into her store while awaiting the eclipse and visiting Texas from Albany, New York. He works as a science teacher and uses the eclipse in his lesson plans. He said his family is already plan their next trip to take.

“We are going to Australia in 2028 to see the next (eclipse),” Bizzarro said. “Yeah, we’re full-blown eclipse chasers at this point. Once you see one in totality, you’ll understand why you had to see it again.”

The City of Marble Falls closed its public facilities Monday, and the Marble Falls Independent School District called off school for the day, too.