Groundhog Day in Woodstock: Willie predicts early spring, rest of region hopes he’s right

Woodstock Willie has had his say.

On Monday morning in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania – the town Woodstock played in the movie – Phil the woodchuck had already had his moment in the sun, er, shade, before Willie’s debut. Phil predicted six more weeks of winter.

But Willie went his own way during the groundhog prognostication in Woodstock Square. He did not see his shadow, meaning an early spring.

Willie’s early spring forecast, which marked the third consecutive warm weather prognostication, was met with cheers from the crowd.

Before the prognostication, Stephen Tobolowsky, who played Ned Ryerson in the iconic film, was presented with a key to the city, which he used to tap on the door of the tree stump in which Willie had been wiggling around.

Tobolowsky then shared the forecast with the crowd, who had braved the cold to see what the furry prognosticator of seasons had to say.

Tobolowsky shared with the crowd that he had been in 100 movies. “Nothing was like ‘Groundhog Day,’” he said.

Laura Balinski, who attended Monday’s event with her Lake Villa-based family, said they were “excited” that Willie didn’t see a shadow. “We’re looking forward to spring,” she said.

Balinski joked that Willie “is obviously a much better groundhog” than Punxsutawney Phil and is “really in touch with the land.”

Her brother, Matthew Balinski, said he had never been to Woodstock before but was enjoying its cute downtown. The family tried to incorporate brown into their outfits in honor of Ned Ryerson.

Attendees Katie Noble and Patrick Weck, who came up from downstate Champaign, were glad nobody booed the groundhog.

“I always get upset when people boo him,” Noble said.

Noble said she used to live in rural Missouri and loves groundhogs and other rodents. She said she can relate to groundhogs burrowing in the ground and hibernating.

As for Willie’s verdict, she said Willie wants to be warm at home like everyone else.

Noble and Weck said it was their first time coming to the prognostication. They saw the movie at the theater, did a film tour and went bowling.

“I hope he’s right,” Weck said of the early spring prediction, but was more excited just to be there than for the verdict.

This year, the national animal rights group PETA came out against the use of a real animal for the festivities, suggesting a groundhog hologram or robot instead. But organizers had no plans to change course. No protesters appeared to be present Monday morning.