Jan 28 2020 31 mins 7
Intro music: “Talkin to a Groundhog” by The Beagle Brothers
What is Groundhog Day?
The Groundhog Day celebration takes place on February 2, every year. The celebration takes place in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania, located about two hours from Pittsburgh. Each year, the groundhog emerges from his lair and predicts how long winter will last. Punxsutawney Phil has been making weather predictions since 1886.
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania & Gobblers Knob
Punxsutawney is small borough located about two hours northeast of Pittsburgh. Punxsutawney has a population of about 5,000 people, but for Groundhog Day, depending on the weather, the town welcomes anywhere from 10,000+ guests.
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club & The Inner Circle
The Inner Circle is a group of 15 men who are responsible for Punxsutawney Phil year-round and the celebrations on Groundhog Day. The Inner Circle hosts other events throughout the year including the Groundhog Ball & Groundhog Banquet.
The Groundhog Club has chapters across the country including Key West, Florida and Mountain View, California.
Join the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club
Anyone can join the Groundhog Club. Membership is $15 a year and gives you access to the reception the night before Groundhog Day.
Know before you go: Pro-tips for visiting Punxsutawney for Groundhog Day
- Go early
- Dress warmly
- There are events all day on February 1 and through the night to February 2. You can see the entire schedule of events here.
Elixir of Life Ceremony and Groundhog Summer Picnic
If standing outside in February isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other opportunities to celebrate with Punxsutawney Phil. Every September, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club hosts the “Elixir of Life Ceremony” and a summer picnic.
Check the Groundhog Club website for details on the Elixir of Life Ceremony and the Groundhog Summer Picnic.
The care (and travel) of Punxsutawney Phil
Like the Pope, Punxsutawney Phil and The Inner Circle have special vehicles for transport to events.
The Phil Carrier is a clear tube that allows a 360-degree view of Phil. Punxsutawney Phil and the Inner Circle travel to events in the Phil Mobile. (You can purchase a matchbox size replica of the Phil Mobile from GroundHogStuff.com for $19.95.)
Visiting Punxsutawney
A few of the places to eat and drink mentioned in this episode:
- Eat: Punxy Phil’s Family Restaurant (aka Phil’s Cakes & Steaks)
- Pizza: Laska’s Pizza
- Bar: The Burrow
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