
Punxsutawney Groundhog Club member A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil at the 2022 Groundhog Day ceremony. (GPA Photo Archive/CC BY 2.0)
Celebrate 2025 Groundhog Day — and its ancient origins — at the popular Punxsutawney event where you can catch a glimpse of the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil.
For more than 130 years, Punxsutawney, Pa. has been the site of a strange weather tradition. You probably know the holiday just by the name “Punxsutawney,” as the town shares its name with the hero of the day, the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil.
Groundhog Day is most famous at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, the site where Punxsutawney Phil leaves his burrow on the morning of Feb. 2 to predict whether we will have an early spring. If Phil sees his shadow, he gets scared and hurries back into his burrow to hibernate, predicting six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow and remains outside, we’ll get an early spring!
(Phil, surrounded by humans screaming his name in the freezing cold, usually sees his shadow.)
What you may not know is that Groundhog Day originated from early holidays celebrated in Europe and that the modern celebration is derived from traditions brought to the U.S. by the German-speaking Pennsylvania Dutch.

Thousands of people attend the 2024 Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney. (Anthony Quintano/CC BY 2.0)
What’s the origin of Groundhog Day?
The ancient Celts, tribes of peoples across Europe, marked the turning of the seasons with celebrations and festivals—many of which were Christianized when Europeans converted. One of these ancient holidays was Imbolc, which celebrated the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, anticipating — and predicting — the beginning of spring. Imbolc shares much in common, including an early February date, with the Christian holiday of Candlemas, which commemorates the purification of Mary after the birth of Jesus.
But many early Christians still practiced predicting the weather on Candlemas, usually assuming that sunny days meant a longer winter and rainy, dark days signaled an early spring. One proverb, recorded in 1678, read: “If Candlemas day be fair and bright / Winter will have another flight / If on Candlemas day it be showre and rain / Winter is gone and will not come again.”
Where does the groundhog fit into these celebrations?
Germans celebrating Candlemas infused their own folk traditions into the holiday. They also referred to Candlemas as “Badger Day” because they would look to the badger to predict the coming of spring. If the badger saw the sun on Candlemas — and thus its shadow — it would return to its burrow to hibernate, signaling a long winter. Sound familiar?
When they left Europe, the Pennsylvania Dutch brought their traditions to the U.S. with them. And with a scarcity of badgers in the state, they simply substituted the groundhog.
How can I celebrate 2025 Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney?
While there are a handful of local celebrations of the holiday, the most well-known Groundhog Day event takes place on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney. The Groundhog Day celebration is organized by the “Inner Circle” of the town’s “Groundhog Club.” These tuxedoed men in top hats conduct the annual event and take care of the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil all year round.
And you can join the people of Punxsutawney for the 2025 Groundhog Day ceremony at Gobbler’s Knob! Punxsutawney’s Groundhog Day celebration is free to attend, but you’ll need to prepare for the crowded, cold, early morning event.
How do I get to Gobbler’s Knob?
Gobbler’s Knob is where Punxsutawney’s Groundhog Day ceremonies take place. If you want to attend, note that you cannot drive to Gobbler’s Knob on Groundhog Day (Feb. 2), as roads are closed to most vehicles while buses transport visitors to Gobbler’s Knob.
You can catch the bus, which costs $5, at three sites: The parking lot of the Aldi at West Mahoning Street and Route 36 in Punxsutawney, Punxsutawney’s downtown Barkley Square, and the parking lot of the Walmart on Route 119 in Punxsutawney. Parking is available at all of these locations but is limited in downtown Punxsutawney. Buy your bus pass by paying $5 cash at any of the three bus stops starting at 3 a.m., when the buses start shuttling people to Gobbler’s Knob. Once the ceremony ends — around 7:30 a.m. — your bus ticket will get you back to your car.

A sign welcomes visitors to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney. (howderfamily.com/ CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
What can I expect at Gobbler’s Knob?
Many people arrive at Gobbler’s Knob quite early on the morning of Feb. 2. The natural slope of the site allows great views of the “stage” where Punxsutawney Phil will make his appearance. But the wooded area does not have seats or any places (besides a bonfire) where you can get warm. You’ll be standing in the cold — and sometimes the snow — for hours. But in addition to Phil’s prediction, you can enjoy multiple entertaining shows at Gobbler’s Knob during the morning of Feb. 2, including a fireworks display. The stage shows begin at 3:00 a.m. and include music, performances, and surprise guests throughout the morning. The fireworks display launches around 6:30 a.m.
Phil makes his appearance at sunrise, which for 2025 Groundhog Day is at 7:25 a.m. on Feb. 2.
What should I bring to Gobbler’s Knob?
You should dress for winter weather! Be sure to wear warm socks, warm boots that can traverse through snow (if necessary), a hat, gloves, and any other accessories you need to keep warm. You can also bring snacks with you, though you can also purchase light snacks and hot drinks at the visitor’s center at Gobbler’s Knob. Note that alcohol is not permitted.
What else can I do in Punxsutawney?
As the most famous Groundhog Day celebration in the world, you might be able to assume that the ceremony at Gobbler’s Knob is not the only event Punxsutawney hosts for Groundhog Day. Indeed, there will be numerous events and activities throughout the week leading up to 2025 Groundhog Day, like brewery parties, a talent show, and a bar crawl. Note that some of these community events require tickets!
Plus, the visitor’s center and gift shop at Gobblers Knob is open all year round in addition to Groundhog Day, so you can visit before the ceremony to garner groundhog lore as well as some souvenirs. You can also check out the Weather Discovery Center, a downtown museum focused on the history and science of weather.
After the 2025 Groundhog Day ceremony on Feb. 2, you can head back downtown and keep the party going at community vendor markets, kids’ activity booths, and festive breakfast and lunch events.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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