The film is the focus at Woodstock Groundhog Days festival

Although not all of the activities associated with Woodstock Groundhog Days are linked to the movie "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray, the film is the focus of the city's festival, which starts Thursday, Jan. 29 and runs through Monday, Feb. 2.

"The movie was the catalyst. There was no Woodstock Groundhog Days before the movie came out in 1992," said Rick Bellairs, member of the Woodstock Groundhog Days Committee.

Mark Greenleaf, building manager of the Woodstock Opera House, remembered the night when he and John Scharres, managing director of the house, made a decision that, had it gone the other way, would have changed Woodstock's history and claim to fame.

The two were sitting on the Opera House steps preparing to close at 5 p.m. and hoping no tourists would knock on the door for a tour at the last minute.

"When it gets close to closing time, you have a dilemma; you either tell them you're closed and you send them away unhappy or you let them in and you end up giving them a tour and your wife is unhappy," Greenleaf said.

As they decided to leave, two cars pulled up across the street and a group of men exited, heading for The Opera House. What Scharres and Greenleaf didn't know was that these were the people who would decide whether or not to use Woodstock to film "Groundhog Day."

"John said, 'Oh, no. Here's comes somebody.' I looked and said, 'John, I think we should let them in, that's Harold Ramis' (the director of 'Groundhog Day'). We let them in," Greenleaf recalled.

After a tour of the Opera House, which was built in the late 1800s, Scharres took the group into the attic to get an overview of the square, all the while pitching the virtues of the town. Greenleaf heard Ramis say, "Make it happen," on his way back down the steps, and history was made.

Greenleaf credit Scharres's - who was unavailable for this story - pitch as a leading factor for the pro-Woodstock decision.

Although the movie is set in Pennsylvania where Groundhog superstar Punxsutawney Phil prognosticates, Ramis and Murray are Chicagoans who wanted to visit family while shooting, thus making Woodstock the perfect location.

The movie concerned a TV weatherman who is sent to cover Groundhog Day, a mission he feels is below his station. After antagonizing his camera crew and the locals for the entire day, he goes to bed and begins a pattern of living the same day over and over.

Once the movie was a hit, Woodstock locals decided to recreate the movie's Groundhog ceremony, according to Bellairs, who worked as an extra in the cult classic.

"The first year it was just a handful of people celebrating and 20 years later, it's grown into a weekendlong festival with lots of activities."

Events kick off on Thursday, Jan. 29, with the "Awakening of the Groundhog," where Woodstock Willie will make his first appearance on the balcony at the Woodstock Opera House. Afterward, Willie will be available for photos at a meet-and-greet. Afterward, film buffs can play "Groundhog Trivia" at Stage Left Cafe.

One popular homage to the movie at this year's Groundhog Days is a dinner dance on Friday night at the Woodstock Moose lodge, where scenes for the movie were shot.

"They filmed the bachelor auction at the Moose, so every year they host a dinner dance and they will have several hundred people there," said Bellairs.

Wayne's Lanes bowling alley will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday for fans who'd like to rent shoes at a location from the movie.

"There's a scene in the movie where Bill Murray is sitting in a bar at a bowling alley with a couple of the locals," Bellairs continued.

There is also a chili cook-off at the Woodstock Opera House, which starts at noon on Saturday followed by a tour of all of the important film locations.

"Groundhog Day" will be shown for free at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, at Classic Cinemas Woodstock, 209 Main St. As of last year, the theater will accommodate many more fans than in previous years due to an expansion project.

"We used to do it on a space available (basis)," said Bellairs. "Now when the theater fills up, they show it in the next theater and the next theater, so last year on Saturday morning, we had the movie running in three different theaters; and on Sunday they had two different screens."

Other weekend events include Jim May's Groundhog Tales, a bags tourney, walking tours of the film sites, and a family fun day.

The culmination of the events is at 7 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2, at Woodstock Square, when the animal will make his prediction. Legend has it that if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. A shadowless result predicts an early spring.

No statistics have been kept on Woodstock's favorite prognosticator.

"We do it for fun, not for science," Bellairs said.

Although some years have seen challenges due to weather, several hundred people are expected to attend the groundhog's weather report.

"We've been snowed out and we've had it very cold. It's the biggest challenge and the one we have the least control over," said volunteer Maggie Crane.

Crane said it's not just the locals who turn up to attend the re-enactment of the movie's Groundhog Day ceremony.

"People come from all over. Last year a group of people came from Canada; we had somebody here from Australia," she said. "The year before it was a young couple, she was from Portugal and he was from Italy and they both loved the movie. They had watched it 40 times."

Because of the event's popularity, Crane suggests that people buy tickets ahead of time for the breakfast at the Moose lodge, which takes place directly after Woodstock Willie's prediction, as it is first-come, first-served.

Most of the events are free, but those that charge money do so for charity, as Woodstock Groundhog Days is a not-for-profit organization, according to Bellairs.

"We charge $1 at the door for the chili cook-off and that money goes to charity. There's a wine and beer tasting on Thursday; the money goes to the Child Advocacy Center of McHenry County. The money at the Moose lodge goes to Moose charities. The Woodstock Rotary Club has a bean bag toss event outside in the snow and they raise money (for local charities). Last year it was the Woodstock Food Pantry," said Bellairs.

This year's festivities will include a memorial to Ramis. Ramis, who was also a member of "SCTV" comedy series and starred in a number of movies including "Ghostbusters," passed away last February. The village will remember him with the dedication of the main auditorium at the Woodstock theater, which will be known as the Harold Ramis Auditorium.

"It will be dedicated at 10 a.m. Saturday, before the showing of 'Groundhog Day,'" Bellairs said. "There is a plaque and a framed letter Harold Ramis sent to the city of Woodstock after filming."

For a complete list of the weekend's events, visit www.woodstockgroundhod.org or call (815) 334-2620.

If you go

What: Woodstock Groundhog Days festival

When: Thursday, Jan. 29 through Monday, Feb. 2

Where: Woodstock Square, 200 Van Buren St., Woodstock

Admission: Free; some activities charge a fee.

Details: <a href="http://www.woodstockgroundhog.org">www.woodstockgroundhog.org</a>