State Groundhog Chuckles Ready For Annual Prediction At Lutz Museum

MANCHESTER, CT — It's time again for Manchester's resident groundhog to determine if there will be six more weeks of winter or an early will spring.

That's right, Chuckles XI and the Lutz Children's Museum are set to continue the long tradition of hosting Groundhog Day in Connecticut.

Executive Director Patricia Buxton and Manchester Mayor Jay Moran will join Chuckles, Connecticut’s official prognosticating groundhog, to make the announcement at sunrise on Feb. 2. If the weather is cloudy and Chuckles doesn’t see his shadow, Connecticut can expect warmer temperatures and an early spring. If Chuckles does see his shadow that day, the winter chill will continue.

“The celebration of Groundhog Day is just one example of how the Lutz Children's Museum celebrates the wistfulness of childhood," Buxton said. "What better way to start your day than to hear if our celebrity forecaster has seen his shadow or not."

Globally, the tradition of Groundhog Day dates back centuries to help ease the transition from winter to spring. At the Lutz Children’s Museum the tradition dates back to 1979 with an injured groundhog rescued from the wild and then State Sen. Mary Ann Handley’s legislation seeking official state status for Chuckles.

Steeped in nostalgia, the community-wide event is designed to "cast off the stressors of modern life, boost optimism for the future, and promote feelings of social connectedness."

The Lutz is a USDA certified facility that only accepts wild animals that are non-releasable to promote proper care and practice when dealing with wildlife. When asked what is great about volunteering at the Lutz.

Learn more at:

• https://lutzmuseum.org/