Shadow or not, everyone can enjoy Woodstock's Groundhog Days

At 7:07 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, a chubby groundhog named Woodstock Willie will poke his head from a tree trunk in the city of Woodstock's historic Woodstock Square to let the world know whether he has seen his shadow, indicating six more weeks of winter.

Willie's Groundhog Day prognostication will be the culmination of the celebration at the 23rd Annual Groundhog Days in Woodstock - a town that became famous for its role as the film site for the classic 1993 Bill Murray film "Groundhog Day."

Activities begin Thursday, Jan. 28, and run through Tuesday, Feb. 2.

"We have people who come from across the country and from across the world to our festival," said Rick Bellairs, a member of the Woodstock Groundhog Days committee and who played an extra in several crowd scenes in "Groundhog Day." "It's our own little claim to fame."

Events include free screenings of "Groundhog Day," walking tours of the film's Woodstock sites, a chili cook-off, a dinner dance, the annual Groundhog Day Breakfast at the Woodstock Moose Lodge and more.

"It's nice to have something fun and lighthearted at this time of year," Bellairs said. "It's the middle of winter, and the holidays are behind us. And our town square is charming at this time of year, with twinkling lights in the snow."

Walking tours of "Groundhog Day" filming sites on Saturday, Jan. 30, Sunday, Jan. 31, and Tuesday, Feb. 2, will be led by Bob Hudgins, who served as the location manager for the film.

"The tours are always a pretty popular event. We've been surprised by some of the crowds that come out for it, in spite of what is sometimes inclement weather," Bellairs said.

Guests on the "Groundhog Day" site tour will see places such as "Ned's Corner," the spot where Bill Murray's character, TV weather forecaster Phil Connors, continually meets up with his high school classmate Ned Ryerson; the "Pennsylvania Hotel," which is in reality the Woodstock Opera House; the "Tip Top Cafe," which is Woodstock's Taqueria La Placita restaurant; the "piano teacher's house," where Murray's character learns to play the piano; "Gobbler's Knob," aka Woodstock Square; and other Woodstock sites.

Visitors can also see free movie screenings of "Groundhog Day" on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 30-31, at the Harold Ramis Auditorium at the Woodstock Theatre on Main Street.

Last year the auditorium was named for Ramis, the director of "Groundhog Day" and a Chicago native, passed away in February 2014.

The Groundhog Day Breakfast on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at the Woodstock Moose Lodge, 406 Clay St., directly follows Woodstock Willie's prognostication in Woodstock Square.

Diners can dig in to breakfast, meet and pose for photos with the Woodstock Willie mascot and see actor Richard Henzel re-enact his role of the DJ on the clock radio from "Groundhog Day."

New to the festival this year is an evening open house from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, at the Woodstock Public Library, 414 W. Judd St., where guests can view a permanent display of items, including scrapbooks and photos, from the filming of "Groundhog Day," Bellairs said.

But, of course, the main event takes place in the early-morning hours of Groundhog Day itself, Feb. 2, when a polka band will play music in Woodstock Square to rouse a sleeping groundhog - just as a polka band played in "Groundhog Day."

Then Woodstock Willie will make his appearance before a crowd of admirers.

"He is our star," Bellairs said.

Woodstock's Groundhog Days

When: Thursday, Jan. 28, through Tuesday, Feb. 2

Where: Various sites in downtown Woodstock

Cost: Most events are free; some require fees.

Info: For a full schedule, see

woodstockgroundhog.org or call the festival hotline at (815) 334-2620.