Teenager Evan John Griffiths becomes local celebrity after traveling from Wales for birthday solar eclipse

When Evan John Griffiths discovered that a solar eclipse would occur on his birthday in a town named Evansville, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity of a lifetime.

The Welsh teenager and his family embarked on a journey spanning 3,967 miles (6,384.37 km) from Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire in the United Kingdom to Evansville, Indiana in the United States to celebrate his 17th birthday.

During their time in Evansville, Evan attracted the attention of local media, turning him into a mini-celebrity.

Reflecting on the extraordinary experience, Evan described it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon positions itself between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s rays.

For a solar eclipse to happen, the sun, moon, and Earth must align perfectly to cast a shadow on our planet.

Evan shared, “One year ago, I stumbled upon the news that there would be a solar eclipse on my birthday in a town that shares my name, Evansville, America. At that time, I couldn’t believe such a coincidental event could happen to anyone. Ironically, I forgot about it for a year until one night in January, when I woke up with an urge to write it down. I’ve been excited about it ever since, much to the annoyance of my mom, and I’m amazed that we finally made it here.”

His mom, Cathrin Edwards, expressed how, after a difficult year, it felt like a major adventure to take on the experience of visiting a place like Evansville on this special day.

Their unique adventure caught the attention of 14 News in Indiana, resulting in a news feature about the family’s experience.

Evan expressed his amusement as he’s now frequently recognized and described as a local celebrity. He proclaimed, “It’s probably the most interesting thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Cathrin Evans found joy in witnessing the struggle of reporters attempting to pronounce Welsh words. She shared, “It was quite amusing to see them try. Some of them resorted to avoiding Welsh place names altogether or simplifying the challenging Welsh names.”