Punxsutawney Phil set for Groundhog Day forecast at Gobbler’s Knob

A small wooded clearing in western Pennsylvania will again become the focus of a long-running winter ritual as thousands prepare to watch Punxsutawney Phil deliver his annual Groundhog Day forecast. At sunrise on Feb. 2, the groundhog will be brought from his tree-stump hatch at Gobbler’s Knob to determine whether the United States can expect six more weeks of winter or an early spring.

The ceremony, organized by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle, has become a fixture of the American cultural calendar, drawing visitors from across the country and beyond. While the event is playful in nature, it has grown into a carefully managed tradition with international recognition and commercial reach.

Each year, Phil’s handlers interpret what they describe as the groundhog’s “groundhogese” — subtle movements such as nods, winks, and purrs — to deliver the verdict. If Phil is said to see his shadow, winter is expected to linger. If not, an early spring is declared.

A tradition rooted in folklore and seasonal timing

Groundhog Day falls midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, a period that historically marked seasonal transitions in European calendars. Similar midwinter observances appear in Celtic traditions and in the Christian observance of Candlemas.

Pennsylvania’s German settlers brought with them the practice of watching hibernating animals emerge in early February as a seasonal signal. Over time, the groundhog — native to North America — replaced the hedgehog used in European folklore. By the 1880s, residents of Punxsutawney were formally marking the occasion with gatherings that included picnics, hunts and celebrations centered on the animal.

Today’s ceremony is less rustic but more widely attended. Tens of thousands are expected at Gobbler’s Knob for the early-morning event, which unfolds before dawn in winter temperatures. Alcohol is no longer permitted at the site after past incidents, and the event now follows a tightly planned schedule supported by volunteers and local authorities.

A new home for Phil

This year marks the first Groundhog Day since Phil began splitting time between his long-standing quarters beside the town library and a newly constructed habitat at Gobbler’s Knob. Organizers describe the addition as a way to improve conditions for the animal and accommodate growing public interest.

Phil is often accompanied in publicity materials by his “wife,” Phyllis, and two young groundhogs named Shadow and Sunny, part of the lighthearted mythology surrounding the event.

Despite the ceremony’s elaborate staging, members of the Inner Circle stress its spirit of humor. “We take not taking ourselves too seriously, seriously,” said Dan McGinley, a member of the club for about a decade. “Groundhog Day is meant to be a bit of fun in the middle of winter.”

From local custom to national symbol

The event’s profile expanded significantly after the 1993 film Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray, which used the tradition as a narrative device. Since then, the holiday has been embraced across North America by communities creating their own versions of the prediction ritual.

Michael Venos, a database administrator from New Jersey, has spent years cataloguing such events. Inspired by both the film and childhood memories of a groundhog near his home, Venos has recorded more than 300 Groundhog Day prognosticators dating back to the 19th century.

In 2025 alone, he noted over 100 separate predictions made by animals across the United States and Canada. Some communities turned to unconventional forecasters, including an armadillo, ostriches, goats, a duck, and even a lobster.

For Venos and his family, the holiday is an annual home tradition involving groundhog-themed cupcakes and a backyard prediction ceremony using sock puppets.

A gathering of believers and skeptics

Organizers say the crowd at Gobbler’s Knob typically falls into two groups: those who enjoy embracing the ritual and those who attend with skepticism but curiosity. Both, they say, contribute to the atmosphere.

The ceremony lasts only a few hours, but it supports a broader tourism and merchandising effort tied to the holiday. Phil recently appeared at an online news conference alongside club members to discuss preparations and the event’s history.

While meteorologists do not consider the prediction scientifically meaningful, the appeal lies in the blend of folklore, seasonal milestone, and communal celebration during a period of the year often associated with cold and limited daylight.

For many attendees, the attraction is less about the weather forecast and more about participating in a uniquely American winter tradition that mixes humor, heritage, and community spirit before dawn on a February morning.