What a lot to write about for Groundhog Day 2020. We typically visit Wiarton on even numbered years to check in with Wiarton Willie. This year, in search of a truly huge weekend Groundhog Day crowd we travelled to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania for Groundhog Day with Punxsutawney Phil.

Sam and Trevor Couldn’t Attend With Us.

This was a real disappointment, last year, we were planning to travel together to Punxsutawney in an off-year (on Saturday, no less), friends Zach and Amie were due to attend as well. Sam broke her finger quite badly so we called the trip off. This year, both Sam and Trevor came down with debilitating colds; eventually they had to back out. It was a real disappointment; we had been planning this for a whole year. Further, I lucked into hotel bookings in nearby Indiana, PA (birthplace of Jimmy Stewart); and, for us, it was the warmest Groundhog Day ever, by a significant margin. We are now planning for another off year visit next year in Punxsutawney.

The AI Groundhog

In the run up to Groundhog Day, there was a suggestion that working groundhogs are mistreated and that the event should be modernized by creating some sort of artificial intelligence groundhog. The typical working groundhog is exposed to large crowds of excited humans once a year. I am not qualified to comment on the level of trauma that this creates but I do know that the typical working groundhog lives twice as long as a groundhog in the wild and primarily due to a careful diet and protection from predators.

Star and April

We met Star and April in Wiarton many years ago. They visit a different groundhog festival every year their dispatches are very entertaining. This year they visited Woodstock, Illinois. Of course, all the Groundhog Day festivals are unique, but this is something very different. Woodstock, Illinois was the location for the filming of the movie Groundhog Day. From what I have read so far, the celebration in Woodstock is more about the movie than it is about Groundhog Day itself. Click here for their blog.

Wiarton Willie

There was controversy in Wiarton this year. Willie imparted his prediction to the Mayor of Wiarton who is also the chairperson of the Shadow Cabinet. Evidently she understood the prediction but mistakenly announced that Willie’s inability to see his shadow predicted 6 more weeks of winter. This is, of course, shameful; the least that Wiarton Willie should expect is that his efforts be properly sustained by the support crew.

No need for a tie break this year, Wiarton Willie and Punxsutawney Phil agreed.

Groundhog Day Round Up

Click here for the Ground Hog Day Round Up site. Incomplete of course but every resource is welcome.

Huge Numbers on Gobbler’s Knob

Everything about this outing was about joining a huge number of Groundhog Day celebrants. That said, there is something to be said for being able to park without climbing onto the last bit of boulevard near the official Groundhog Day Wal Mart. Luckily our car had enough clearance.

Groundhog Day Transportation Arrangements Shine Again.

We were so impressed with the transportation set up. Civilians are not allowed to drive to Gobbler’s Knob, virtually all celebrants are bussed up in an amazing convoy of school buses pressed into service from all nearby jurisdictions.

The Great Reveal

With all the parking problems, we arrived on the Knob at 6AM. There was an unbelievable number of participants. Absolutely breathtaking! The show was entertaining and enthusiastic but difficult to see and the sound system was overwhelmed by the size of crowd. At 6:30am, the transportation to the site was stopped … the national anthem sung and the floodlights were turned off followed by the most spectacular fireworks display that lasted some 20 minutes. After a couple of short acts, the Inner Council marched to the stage to wake Phil and translate his prognosis for the rest of the winter.

Click here for a link to the video stream of the actual reveal; yes, it includes speeches and whatnot, but the quality is good and it is the best way to get a feel for the size of the crowd. Click on the photo below for our photos of the event; headlined, as always by the mandatory misery shot.

We Meet Phil On Stage

After the reveal, the Inner Circle announced that they would not be allowing people to go up on stage to meet Phil but we were invited to stay so that we could at least get closer to the action. Once everyone was lined up for the buses to head back down to the town, we were invited up.

The Pennsylvania Polka

Of course, one of the highlights after the reveal is listening to the Pennsylvania Polka. Click here.

Denoument

With the crowd largely dissipated, we visited the various photo opportunities and boarded the shuttle for the trip back into town. Exhaustion and hunger were setting in so we chose not to stay in town for additional festivities. Too bad, we really wanted to see the group wedding (by prior appointment only, drop ins not allowed); couples who sensibly wish to be married on Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney.

Surprisingly Scenic

We love long drives and we are easy to please; but, we have driven the corridor between Punxsutawney and Buffalo a number of times and, to be frank, it is not a very scenic experience. You will notice; however, that there was about an hour of snow in the region in the early morning and Mumtaz took some very nice photos of the drive between Punxsutawney and Dubois Pennsylvania. Click on the photo for more.

02 02 2020

So how to wrap up Sunday 02 02 2020. I remain inspired by the people of Punxsutawney who never fail to rise to the occasion, surely welcoming more visitors than ever before. I feel that there is a bigger message, a message of hope for the future. Thousands of volunteers welcome tens of thousands of visitors from all walks of life, free of discontent, free of bitterness, free of strife.