Woodstock Willie requests your presence at Groundhog Days
It's time for Groundhog Days in Woodstock -- a town that the National Trust for Historic Preservation named as one of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations of 2007, as well as being the location of the filming of the movie "Groundhog Day."
The movie was filmed in and around Woodstock in 1992 and released in 1993.
Although not an Academy Award hopeful that year, it was a big deal to Woodstockians.
"Crowds surrounded the filming every day, trying to get a peek at the stars, Bill Murray or Andie MacDowell," said Pam Moorhouse, co-chair of Woodstock Groundhog Days.
You can join Woodstock Willie, Woodstock's resident groundhog on the historic Woodstock Square and be one of the first to know if he sees his shadow when he emerges from his hollow log at 7:07 a.m. Saturday.
Willie is not as well known as Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania, the national icon of prognostication, but he suffices as our local representative.
There have been a number of "Woodstock Willies" over the years. Bill Hoffman of Chicago's Animal Rentals toted the first Willie and has become Willie's travel agent ever since.
So now it's out -- Woodstock Willie isn't really from Woodstock. But the citizenry doesn't hold that against him -- they continue to welcome him each year.
Before the stated time of his emergence, Willie is placed in his hollow log to get ready for his close-up.
"We don't keep him in there too long; it's kind of a tight fit and it's usually cold," Moorhouse said.
According to Woodstock tradition that's 14 years in the making, as Willie emerges, dignitaries lean in to hear his prediction of either an early spring or six more weeks of wintry weather.
The first Woodstock Groundhog Days was celebrated in 1995, on a bitterly cold day.
"Only 25-30 people and one groundhog showed up for the occasion, which was held in the lower level of the Courthouse Restaurant in the old courthouse on the Square," Moorhouse said.
Then-Mayor Bill Anderson leaned in to hear Willie's prediction. The proclamation was then read to the citizens by the mayor.
Although some of the inaugural day's records have been kept, it's not known whether Woodstock Willie predicted an early spring or six more weeks of winter that first year.
"The mayor promised he would bring more people out for the following year's commemoration," Moorhouse said, "and the crowds have increased each year.
The celebration also has grown in number and range of activities.
Starting with a wine tasting and a parade today, not to be missed is the Lighting of the Groundhog at 6 p.m. Friday at the Woodstock Opera House. The furry star of the weekend stands on the lighted Opera House portico and is heralded with fireworks.
The Shake Off the Winter Blues Dinner Dance begins at 6 p.m. Friday at the Woodstock Moose Lodge.
"That's the same site where the dance scene was set in the movie," Moorhouse said.
After witnessing the emergence of Willie at 7:07 a.m. Saturday, stick around for breakfast, showing of the movie, storytelling, the chili-fest and a walking tour of the movie scenes.
For details, call the Groundhog Days hotline at (815) 338-2436, or visit Web site www.woodstockil chamber.com.