If you're looking for a cold weather vacation that is fun, historical, activity rich, and loaded with friendly faces, look no further than the world famous Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Tucked away in the picturesque rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney is only a scenic 90-minute drive northeast of Pittsburgh. With an economy that was previously based on coal mining, that has now shifted to tourism and service, this area has everything you need for your next big getaway. From the beautiful and comfortable bed and breakfasts that dot the area, to the fun attractions, parks, and shops, Punxsutawney has something for everyone. Aside from the scenic surroundings and friendly residents, Punxsutawney becomes one of the most popular places in America in late January and early February, thanks to Punxsutawney Phil and The Groundhog Day Celebration.
For a staggering 130 years, Punxsutawney Phil has been helping predict the change in seasons to the delight of locals and spectators from all over the world. While many groundhogs try and predict the seasons, no celebration, or single groundhog, has the following of Punxsutawney Phil and The Groundhog Day Celebration. With humble beginnings, this festival has grown into quite the production with over 40,000 attendees annually. When you come to celebrate with Phil, get ready to have a blast! Everything kicks off early as people gather at Phil's home in Gobbler’s Knob and await his prediction. After that, the things to do kick into overdrive with activities like a breakfast with Phil, arts and crafts fair, live chainsaw carving, bingo, kids storytime, a dog competition, scavenger hunt and so much more. Make your next winter vacation one you’ll warmly remember for years to come and visit Punxsutawney for The Groundhog Day Celebration. ResortsandLodges.com got the chance to interview Katie Donald, the Excutive Director of the Groundhog Club, to talk about this fun and famous event.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
KD: This will be the 130th Anniversary of Groundhog Day. We attract people into Punxsutawney from far and wide. Phil has fans from all over the world!
RAL: What is the typical demographic of the crowd?
KD: There are events surrounding Groundhog Day that will appeal to everyone! We have lots of family-friendly activities and events for couples (even on-site weddings). You’ll also find events geared to the 21+ crowd. Groundhog Day at the Knob (Gobblers Knob aka Phil's home) itself is typically a wide array of people. We generally do not recommend bringing small children because there is no sitting and it's usually very cold. However, we tell families that they know their kids best, so whatever they think!
RAL: What makes the event unique?
KD: The event is unique because it has stayed true to its roots and has followed the same tradition and legend for 130 years. There aren’t many events in the world like it. It’s not for the faint of heart! The weather can be very unpredictable, but it’s a great time and you meet a lot of great people from all over the world.
RAL: Take me through a typical day at the event.
KD: Generally, our visitors will come in a day or two before Groundhog Day. This allows them to experience the small town charm, unique food, along with great events and activities. Groundhog Day is about having fun in the middle of winter. Each year we have a banquet where we invite a special guest. We have had guests ranging from Danny Rubin, the writer of the movie Groundhog Day, to Miss Ohio 2014 and even personalities from The Weather Channel. We have many different dining opportunities. There are vendors set up in our town square and we have the must can’t-miss restaurants in Punxsy. There is truly something for everyone.
RAL: What can attendees expect to find for local lodging?
KD: There are limited lodging opportunities directly in Punxsutawney. We have two hotels and a few bed and breakfasts. These all book up very fast so make sure to start planning early! A lot of our visitors stay in the surrounding communities: Brookville, DuBois, Indiana, and Clearfield. Since the lodging is so limited, people generally book their rooms as soon as possible, sometime months in advance. The B&B's seem popular as they continue the small town, family feel. Two of the local option include Jackson Run Bed & Breakfast and Gateway Lodge Country Inn Resort and Spa.
RAL: What does the event mean to the community?
KD: We definitely drive business to to the local economy on a local and regional level. As visitors stay in other communities they eat, buy gas, and do other activities unique to those areas.
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club is a 501-C3 Non-Profit. The individual events raise money for local organizations. The Groundhog Club only charges for a few events and that is primarily to fund putting them on. The event at Gobbler's Knob on Groundhog Day is free. We try to keep as many things free as possible. Most of our events function off of sponsorships.
RAL: Why should people come to your event?
KD: Groundhog Day is a fun, unique, and memorable event. We have many visitors that come to cross it off their bucket list. Others come to spend their birthday with the world famous Punxsutawney Phil! We have some visitors that live all across the country and come here once a year to get together. You will meet people from all over the world that have traveled to Punxsutawney, who are just as curious about the holiday as you are. The overall celebration will be memorable - from Dueling Piano's and Phil's Summit, to ringing in Groundhog Day atmidnight on the February 1st and Phil 101 - Groundhog Day has something for everyone. The fireworks show at the Knob at 6:30 am is spectacular and just heightens the anticipation for the “Prognosticator of Prognosticators” to make his prediction. As the Inner Circle makes the Trek to stage and the President awakes Phil, all eyes are on the Seer of Seers. Will it be six more weeks of winter or an early spring? To truly appreciate Groundhog Day, one must come to Punxsutawney to see what it is all about!
For more information about The Groundhog Day Celebration, please visit their website.