PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – As much of the country grapples with harsh winter weather, attention turns to Punxsutawney for Groundhog Day on February 2. The annual event has been held at Gobbler’s Knob since 1887.
Visitors to downtown Punxsutawney on Saturday enjoyed live music and warm beverages while picking up groundhog-themed souvenirs. With single-digit wind chills and snow on the ground, many hope the groundhog will not see his shadow, signaling an early spring.
Marcy Galando, the executive director of the Groundhog Club, which organizes the event, shared insights into this year’s celebration.
“This year we’re not anticipating that large of a crowd because it’s going to be falling on a Monday; the temperatures sometimes do hinder that a little bit, but we still expect a large crowd. We never really know—but we anticipate thousands of people. We don’t know what that thousands will look like until that morning of,” said Galando.
Last year’s event drew more than 52,000 people to Gobbler’s Knob, but this year’s attendance might be affected by the weather.
