GROUNDHOG DAY CELEBRATION 2017
Groundhog Day Talking Points
Follow Visit PA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for Groundhog Day updates, using the
hashtag #GHD2017!
AT A GLANCE

Each year on Feb. 2, thousands of revelers travel to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney,
Pa., (northcentral part of the state approximately 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh) to
witness the prediction.

Punxsutawney Phil has the mythical ability of forecasting either an early spring or long
winter. Phil has only predicted an early spring 18 times in the last 130 years.

With the help of his keepers and protectors, the tuxedo-clad members of the mysterious
Inner Circle, Phil shares that prediction with the world from the region known as the
Pennsylvania Wilds.

If Phil sees his shadow, he predicts six more weeks of winter and returns to his burrow.
If he does not see his shadow, spring is just around the corner.

The first legendary trek to Gobbler’s Knob occurred in 1886. Last year, Phil celebrated
130 years of prognosticating.

Crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited Gobbler’s Knob for a multi-day
festival celebrating the town’s most famous resident – Punxsutawney Phil.
BACKGROUND
European Roots that continued in Pennsylvania

The custom dates back to the early days of Christianity in Europe and grew out of a
winter festival called Candlemas Day, a day for clergy to bless and distribute candles.
According to legend, clear skies on Candlemas Day meant an extended winter.

The Roman legions, during the conquest of the northern country, brought this tradition to
the Germans, who concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, a
hedgehog would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of bad weather or
“Second Winter.”

In Germany, the hedgehog became part of the legend. The German twist was that on a
clear, sunny day, the hedgehog would cast a shadow.

Some of Pennsylvania’s earliest settlers were German, and they noted a large
population of groundhogs. Because of its resemblance to the European hedgehog, the
groundhog carried on the tradition.

In 1886, a group of groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney dubbed themselves "The
Punxsutawney Groundhog Club."

The editor of Punxsutawney's newspaper was a member of the Club and he used his
editorial clout to proclaim that Phil, the Punxsutawney groundhog, was the one and only
official weather prognosticating groundhog. Phil's fame began to spread, and
newspapers from around the globe began to report Punxsutawney Phil's predictions.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF GROUNDHOG DAY

While Groundhog Day is certainly a fun event for visitors, the economic impact
Pennsylvania’s most unique holiday has on the town of Punxsutawney and surrounding
communities is astounding.

Every year that Groundhog Day falls on a weekend, up to 30,000 visitors descend on
Punxsutawney, prompting a significant tourism boost for the small town of just 5,500
residents. When Groundhog Day falls on a weekday, 10,000-20,000 visitors attend.

There are nearly 600 hotel rooms in Jefferson County, where Punxsutawney is located, and
another 2,000 rooms in neighboring counties. Each year, hotel rooms are sold out for the
event.

Just how much does the area benefit from this influx in visitors? The average visitor spends
an estimated $200 on lodging, food, gas and souvenirs per day while visiting Punxsutawney
for Groundhog Day.

This isn’t limited to just February 2. Many visitors come in early to be a part of all of the
festivities leading up to the prognostication, which begin this year on Saturday, January 28.

According to the Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce, the events add about $1 million to
the region each year.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Punxsutawney is among the quaint towns, untamed wilderness and a myriad of events that take
place year round in the Pennsylvania Wilds – www.pawilds.com.

Groundhog Day Road Trip
(www.visitpa.com/pa-road-trips/punxsutawney-groundhog-day-road-trip)
o The Groundhog Day Road Trip offers many attractions for the entire family both in
and around town any time of year.

The GHC Headquarters (www.groundhog.org/visit-us/groundhog-club-headquarters/)
o The Groundhog Club Headquarters is a unique new addition to Punxsutawney for
historical and rare Groundhog Club and Punxsutawney Phil items.

The Gobbler’s Knob Trail (www.groundhog.org/visit-us/gobblers-knob-trail/)
o The Gobbler’s Knob Trail is a half mile trail featuring metal art created by students
from a local trade school each year to celebrate the holiday. Trail signage timelines
the history of Groundhog Day, the Inner Circle, Punxsutawney Phil, groundhog facts
and much more.
2

Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center (www.weatherdiscovery.org)
o Interactive education center devoted to weather science and folklore housed in
Punxsutawney’s former post office downtown, a beautiful 1914 structure listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.

Phil’s Burrow (www.punxsutwaneylibrary.org)
o Phil’s official home is a terrarium built in the Punxsutawney Memorial Library open to
the public.

The Phantastic Phils! public art project (www.punxsutawney.com/phils)
o 32 larger-than-life fiberglass groundhogs by local and national artists located
throughout town.

Groundhog Wine Trail (www.groundhogwinetrail.com)
o Features 17 wineries in the surrounding area.

Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society (www.punxsyhistory.org)
o Learn about Groundhog Day history and the area’s rich industrial heritage by visiting
the extensive museum complex.
FUN FACTS

During Prohibition, Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter if he didn’t get a drink.

In 1986, he visited President Reagan in Washington, D.C.

In 1993, Columbia Pictures released the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.

In 1995, Phil was on the Oprah Winfrey Show and in 2001 he enjoyed a tour of New York
City including appearances on Regis Philbin Live, the CBS Early Show, and CNN.

In 2003, Governor Edward G. Rendell became the first Pennsylvania governor to participate
in the Annual Trek to Gobbler's Knob with the Inner Circle.

In 2012, Governor Tom Corbett attended Groundhog Day.

Phil is tech and social media savvy. His prediction was available via text in 2010 and more
than 35,000 worldwide earned the "PA Groundhog Day" Foursquare Badge on Feb. 2, 2013.

The Inner Circle is also on social media. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Pittsburgh-based Penn Brewery released “Punxsutawney Philsner” in January 2016, prior to
the 130th anniversary of Groundhog Day. The beer will again be available this year at
various bars in the area.

On Jan. 29, 2017, “The Guardians of Phil” will premiere in Punxsutawney – a Discovery
Channel documentary about Groundhog Day.
3