PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — On Sunday, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow to see his shadow, indicating a forecast of six more weeks of winter, an announcement made by his well-dressed handlers before an enthusiastic, record-breaking crowd at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania.
The event kicked off with cheers of “Phil, Phil, Phil,” as the beloved groundhog was revealed shortly after dawn. One of the members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club read from a scroll that humorously stated: “Only I know — you can’t trust A.I.”
The tradition of Phil’s weather prediction has been a celebrated ritual in western Pennsylvania for over a century, drawing from older European folklore. However, it was the 1993 classic film “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray that propelled the event into widespread popularity, resulting in U.S. imitators and attracting tens of thousands of attendees to the celebration.
According to tradition, if Phil does not see his shadow, it heralds an early spring; conversely, if he does see it, winter continues for another six weeks. As the crowd anticipated Phil’s appearance, they were entertained by a display of fireworks, live music that included everything from the Ramones to Pennsylvania Polka, and a shower of confetti. Among the dignitaries present were Gov. Josh Shapiro, local officials, and even a few pageant winners.
Jon Lovitch, a New York gingerbread artist who has been attending the event for over three decades, expressed his love for the cold weather and described the gathering as “the best and biggest midwinter party in the entire world.”
Statistically, Phil tends to predict a longer winter more often than an early spring, with various assessments suggesting his forecasts are accurate less than half the time. Tom Dunkel, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, noted that attendees at Gobbler’s Knob typically fall into two categories: those who come to reaffirm their beliefs and skeptics seeking to verify their doubts.
Phil’s insights are translated through “Groundhog-ese” by Dunkel, who uses a special cane he inherited as the club leader. “He’ll like wink, he’ll purr, he’ll chatter, he’ll — you know — nod,” Dunkel shared, explaining how the woodchuck communicates his predictions.
Attending the event is free, although there is a $5 fee for bus transportation that saves visitors a mile hike from the town center to the viewing area, located about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Local schools, known by their mascot, the Chucks, close when Groundhog Day coincides with a weekday due to the volume of attendees.
Keith Post and his companions decided it was finally time to make the trip from Ohio after watching the “Groundhog Day” film annually for five years. “We booked rooms almost a year in advance and we’re here,” said Post, excited for the experience.
A new welcome center established four years ago has made visits even better, and the club is planning to create a new living space for Phil and his family to foster a balance between Gobbler’s Knob and their home at the local library. Additional amenities this year included large video screens and improved audio systems to ensure that even those at the back of the crowd could enjoy the festivities.
“It’s a holiday where you don’t really owe anyone anything,” remarked A.J. Dereume, one of Phil’s handlers who lifted the groundhog to the delight of cheering fans. “You’re grasping onto the belief, you know, in something that’s just fun to believe in.”
Jackie Handley made her first trip to Punxsutawney with friends as part of a bucket list goal. Ready for the frigid temperatures, she said, “It’s once in a lifetime — we’re probably not going to come back. And we have tons of warm clothes.”
After Phil’s forecast was delivered, club members posed for photos with both the crowd and the iconic groundhog. Phil’s family includes his wife, Punxsutawney Phyllis, and their two pups, Shadow and Sunny, although they did not join him for the event. The groundhog family’s diet mainly consists of fruits and vegetables, and they receive regular care from Veterinarians.
According to club traditions, Phil is said to be the same woodchuck giving forecasts for over a century, sustained by an “elixir of life” that keeps him immortal. “There’s only one Phil, and it’s not something that can be handed down,” Dunkel added, likening Phil’s singularity to that of Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.
Similar celebrations of Groundhog Day take place in at least 28 U.S. states and Canadian provinces. In Pennsylvania, other groundhogs predicted more winter as well; however, at the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge in Quarryville, a groundhog named Octoraro Orphie forecasted an early spring. Additionally, General Beauregard Lee in Georgia and Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia also predicted six more weeks of winter after seeing their shadows.
