On Feb. 2, as in past years, people will consult with groundhogs regarding their shadows and the predictions for the end of winter. And no groundhog’s predictions garner more attention than Punxsutawney Phil.
If you intend to see Phil’s predictions live this year, here’s what you’ll need to know!
When and where:
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club hosts their Groundhog Day celebration - and the announcement of Phil’s prediction - at Gobbler’s Knob, 548 Woodland Avenue, in Punxsutawney. The reveal is made around 7:20 a.m. each year.
Going in person:
The whole morning at Gobbler’s Knob consists of revelers gearing up for the big announcement. Crowds gather in the wee hours of the morning, as the park area opens early at 3 a.m.
And, as the Gobbler’s Knob parking passes and access to the Hospitality Village (which opens at 4 a.m.) have both already sold out, anyone else who plans to attend should dress warmly and be prepared for crowds while they wait.
Traveling to Gobbler’s Knob will require either walking from downtown Punxsutawney - an uphill hike of a mile and a half - or a shuttle bus. Bus tickets are $5 per person, and they will run from 3 a.m. until 6:30 a.m. on Feb. 2 at the following locations:
- Barclay Square, with parking available on the streets and in public parking lots downtown.
- Aldi, 545 West Mahoning Street, with parking in the Punxsy Plaza lot.
- Wal-Mart, 21920 Route 119.
More information on transportation to Gobbler’s Knob can be found here.
What to bring:
Anyone who wants to take advantage of vendors should bring cash, in addition to dressing warmly for the early hours of a February morning. Also, be prepared to stand, as items like lawn chairs are not allowed.
Other events in Punxsutawney:
There are a number of other events leading up to the Groundhog Day reveal with Phil, as well as some after.
If you’re in town early - which is a good idea if you’re hoping to be there at 3 a.m. on Feb. 2 - you could take in the Gobbler’s Knob Got Talent show, or the Punxsutawney Area Community Foundation Dance, both on Feb. 1.
Several other events, such as the Dueling Pianos or the Groundhog Banquet, have already sold out. You can take a look at all of the scheduled events, and buy tickets for those that remain, on the Groundhog Club’s website.
Watching from home:
Thanks to the miracle of modern technology, the gift of Groundhog Day can be shared remotely.
Viewers online can watch the live broadcast by PCN starting at 6 a.m. on Feb. 2 by clicking here, or click here to watch the stream from the Visit PA website starting at the same time.
You can also tune in to PCN on your TV, found on channels 74 and 1127 for most Comcast subscribers and channels 9 and 509 for Verizon FIOS subscribers in our area. Get more info on PCN’s channels here.
We’ll also have the news of Phil’s prediction here on PennLive as soon as it’s revealed!