For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to go to Groundhog Day. So, when Groundhog Day ended up on a Friday this year, and I conveniently had no classes to attend, I convinced my roommates to make the trek with me.
If you have never been to Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pa., it is a huge celebration to find out if there will be six more weeks of winter or if it will be early spring. That celebration commences with the prognosticator of all prognosticators, Punxsutawney Phil.
If you saw this year’s celebration and want to know how to attend next year, here is your guide to everything Groundhog Day.
- The Original U.S. GroundHog Day
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While the tradition of Groundhogs predicting the weather was brought to the States by the Germans, the first Groundhog Day was held in Punxsutawney, Pa. Other Groundhog Day celebrations have popped up across the United States over the years, but Punxsutawney holds the crown as the largest averaging 40,000 people each year.
- Get There Early
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The partying in Punxsutawney starts happening way before the weather predictions, so if you want to experience the celebrations, the earlier you arrive, the more you will get to see. My crew and I arrived about two hours before Phil did not see his shadow, and there were already thousands of people lined up around the stage waiting in anticipation.
Even though we couldn’t see all of what was happening on the stage, we still had a great time. If you want to get a closer view, I recommended getting to Gobbler’s Knob the night before.
- Know Where To Park
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If you are driving up to Punxsutawney on the day of the event, ensure you know where you are going to park. If you are not going to pay to park directly at Gobbler’s Knob, make a plan on how you are going to get up to the fairgrounds. You can consult The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club website for more information to make a plan.
From my experience, if you do not mind walking, we chose to park at the Primary Health Network and walk the 1.8 miles to Gobbler’s Knob. On our walk, we got to enjoy the various houses with inflatable groundhogs and groundhog signs that helped boost our spirits on the uphill journey.
- Dress For The Weather
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Feb. 2 means that it is winter in Pennsylvania, so dress appropriately. The events of Groundhog Day take place outside, so a winter coat, hats, gloves and comfortable shoes are all highly recommended. Also, the ground you will be walking on in Gobbler’s Knob is muddy, so wear shoes that you are not afraid to get a little dirty.
If you are really in the Groundhog Day spirit, there were many people there sporting Groundhog Day shirts, hats and even onesies to stay warm and festive.
- Don’t Miss The Fireworks
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The party starts at 3 a.m. with music and live entertainment, but my favorite part of Groundhog Day (besides the sighting of Phil) was the fireworks show. The fireworks show starts at 6:30 a.m. and is a classic display of Pennsylvania pyrotechnics. So if you do not want to get there right at 3 a.m., I recommend getting to Gobbler’s Knob by 6:15 a.m. to ensure you do not miss the fireworks.
Unfortunately, you will have to wait a whole year to attend Groundhog Day again since it only happens on Feb. 2. However, if you want to attend Hospitality Village, buy an Inner Circle Pass or park close to the Gobbler’s Knob facilities, the earlier you plan your trip the better chance you will have at obtaining these.
However, if you don’t wish to buy these (and you are a broke college student such as myself) you can still have a great time going last minute without any of these necessities. Save this article as a guide to help you plan your Groundhog Day 2025 trip to Punxsutawney, Pa.