More Winter? Punxsutawney Phil Decides on Ground Hog Day!

What is more quintessentially small town American than the yearly Ground Hog Day festival held every February 2 in the West Central Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney?

Throngs of college students as well as people from around the world come here to party, freeze their toes on top of Gobbler’s Knob at dawn.

Town library and home to Phil.
Town library and Phil’s home.

On the 2nd of Febrauary 2002 many couples visited Punxsutawney to be married at the groundhog chapel by Mayor Jim “Snake” Wherley.

Many people don’t realize just how big an event this is or expect to see a duplicate of the Bill Murray events from the movie (which runs for free each year in the Community Center).

While the movie wasn’t made here, Mr. Murray did research here before making the movie and, although the town in the movie isn’t Punxsutawney, it does pretty well reflect the feel of the real town except it didn’t show the massive crowds and the real location of Phil’s den, placing it downtown for movie purposes.

True to the movie, TV crews do actually come in from the surrounding area to cover the event.

Phil actually lives the rest of the year in the town municipal building in a part of the library, next to the chapel and police station but his prediction is made on a usually bitterly cold hill top near downtown where he is brought early each February second for his triumphal appearance just past dawn.

The crowd standing around on Gobbler’s Knob from as early as 3 a.m. often numbers in the tens of thousands. Punxsutawney is midway between two universities (Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Penn State) but also within easy driving distance of the large city of Pittsburgh, so many in the crowd are college students.

The town encourages younger visitors by offering a secure crash pad ($5) in The Community Center the night before Phil’s prediction – Phil’s appearance isn’t the start of the festivities, rather it happens near the end with continuous entertainment starting days in advance.

This year the hospitality and information tent opened Saturday, January 29 and kicked off events all day long.

More activities from dodge ball competitions (benefits a major Penn State “Greek” charity) to chilie and wing cook off at the local Culinary School (IUP) and the Oreo stacking contest run through the afternoon of February 2.

But this event isn’t just for the college crowd, over the years I’ve spoken with tourists from Europe and as far away as New Zealand.

GHD can be great for families – the events are very kid friendly too, with children’s book readings and other events just for the kids.

Hot this week

Did David Wineland and Serge Haroche Steal Idea For The Nobel Physics Prize?

Dr. Omerbashich says the Royal Swedish Academy is a Crime Scene and he has the proof that Nobel laureates stole his discovery.

New Approaches to Disaster Relief Challenges

Disaster relief has always been a challenge. NASA, Google,...

3 Legitimate Money Making Methods to Supplement Your Income

In a perfect world, when your landlord raises your...

2016 Predictions by World Renowned Medium and Psychic Lindy Baker

World renowned medium and psychic Lindy Baker is interviewed by The Hollywood Sentinel, discussing psychic power, the spirit world, life after death, areas of concern in 2016, and much more.

Digital Coupon Customers Spending More Than Double At Stores

A new study shows that customers who use digital coupons go shopping more for groceries and other household goods more often and spend more on their shopping trips.

TigerData and Listo Join Omri Hurwitz’s Immense Portfolio

In a move that further solidifies Omri Hurwitz Media...

From Timescale to TigerData: Signals a Bold Future for PostgreSQL

TigerData, the new name for Timescale, has officially unveiled...

Protest to Stop “King Trump” and ICE from deporting Murderer Child Rapists

On June 14th, in MacDonald Park, Queens, the usual...

USAID Official, Three Executives Plead Guilty to Fraud

USAID official Roderick Watson and three company executives pled...

Truth, Justice, and the Price of Peace: A Letter to Humanity From a Tired Citizen of Earth

What is the price of peace when your heart is breaking - not from rockets or protests or flags or chants but when people stop listening.

Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight – a South African Memoir

The war began in 1964. Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight is set in the summer of ‘79, just before an election, with white minority rule under threat.

Related Articles

Popular Categories