Revisiting Groundhog Day

Today I thought we would be fun revisiting Groundhog day,Every year we attend this special event celebrating Groundhog day.

This year with the extreme temperatures we took a pass.

This morning the high was 5.

But I thought I would share this again,being that it is groundhog day.

And I hope he did not see his shadow,I don’t think any of us want 6 more weeks of winter!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today is  Groundhog day.Seems like a silly celebration really,all the commotion over a furry animal that supposedly predicts if it will be an early spring or not.

But in 1993 a film crew came to Woodstock Illinois to film the movie Groundhog day.

And ever since they left this town has been celebrating groundhog day in a big way!

People anxiously awaiting the announcement.

We arrived there bright and early in the morning.The temperature was 18.It was quite cold.

My daughter and husband  trying to keep warm.

This is the faux tree trunk that the groundhog (Scooter) is kept until he is ready to come out and give his prediction.

Woodstock Willie get’s the crowd ready for the announcement.

The crowd is really starting to grow!

There were people from all over the country and out of the country.Some came from Spain and Austria!

This gentleman is wearing a German dance attire.Baring his bare legs.Let me tell you my toes were frozen as my hands were too!

I can’t believe he had his legs and hands exposed!

Those are tough men!

I am a wimp!

This is Richard Henzel he is the voice of the radio dj from the movie.Do you remember??Rise and shine campers…….

Scooter the groundhog is now making his prediction as the mayor listens.

And he makes his announcement scooter does not see his shadow so we will have an early spring!

This is the gazebo that Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell dance.

And in the background you see the “Hotel” that Andie stays in.But it is actually a opera house

After the celebration we walked around the square and saw a local radio personality Lou Manfredini doing a live radio show in a local bar.

He decided to do a little pose for me when he saw my camera.

He really dressed up for the occasion! A tux and top hat!

 

 

While on our way home we drove past some of the homes that were used in the movie.

This is the piano teachers home from the movie.

This was the bed and breakfast Bill Murray stayed at.They just used the exterior for the movie.

At the time a family was living here.But today it is a bed and breakfast you can actually stay here now!

 

 

 We made one more quick stop before going home.The local bakery was selling Groundhog day cookies.And we could not resist!

This does not look like a groundhog but it was really good!