(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Although our state did not see totality, hundreds of people still came together in Southern Colorado for a glimpse of the partial eclipse.

Hundreds of people took the day to watch the partial eclipse. More than eighteen hundred gathered at the Pikes Peak East Library with hundreds more at the Broadmoor.

“It’s not too heavy. It’s the sun is bright enough. If you’re looking with the glasses, you will be able to see it with the naked eye. But the glasses really pulled through there,” says Leah Davis.

The event began around the city Monday morning, to watch the partial eclipse which began at 11:30 and hit about 68 percent partiality around 12:40. People of all ages went to the event and some kids even got to miss school.

“I am enjoying it all. Then I get to skip school!” said Riley Swanson.

Riley and his dad love learning about science together, so they came prepared with a colander and their glasses. When held up to the light, the holes from the colander reflect the status of the eclipse.

“Oh, I Oh, I love science. I mean, my father [and I] talk about it all, and very often,” he said.

Many places around the city handed out glasses and quickly ran out. Luckily many people shared, so everyone could enjoy the experience. Especially because of how much damage the sun can cause.

“It doesn’t hurt with the proper solar glasses. This is great. Now I’m tempted to just use them every day and look at the sun for a few minutes. Just keep an eye on it so you don’t hurt yourself,” said Leah Davis.

Along with giving away glasses, some events also offered games and chalk for kids to enjoy while they waited.

Davis traveled from Toronto to see the moment.

“I was pretty excited, a little worried that I wasn’t going to get the full effect of the solar eclipse out here, out of the path of totality that I, kind of, left in Toronto. But it was pretty good in clear skies, a beautiful day, and saw, I think about 80% totality,” she said.

She also says that she felt a temperature change and noticed it getting darker outside.

Davis says she could have gone anywhere to watch, but she decided to come to Colorado.

“So, I think we got a pretty good view here. Yeah, got a good view of that kind of crescent moon looking slightly darker, not too dark, a little cold, [a] little windier, but… But not too dark. Wow,” she said.