Will Woodstock Willie See His Shadow?

WOODSTOCK, IL — Woodstock Willie will appear early Thursday for his annual prognostication. And local residents will brave the bitter cold to stop out to see if the groundhog is betting on an early spring or a longer winter.

Follow Amie Schaenzer on Instagram for live coverage from Thursday’s prognostication.

The annual prognostication featuring the town's own groundhog, Woodstock Willie, will start promptly at 7 a.m. on Thursday at the gazebo in the Woodstock Square, said Rick Bellairs, chairman of Woodstock Groundhog Days. But the festivities during the 30th annual Groundhog Days will continue through the week and weekend. The festival is meant to give a nod to Woodstock's 15 minute of fame when it was featured in the cult classic “Groundhog Day.”

In the movie, Woodstock portrays Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where Bill Murray’s character was mired in a time loop.

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And like many who've lived in the Woodstock area long enough, Bellairs, cast as one of hundreds of extras, fondly recalls his days on set during the making of the hit movie in 1992.

“Back then we had little idea what the movie was about, let alone that people would still be talking about it 30 years later,” he said, adding that the town first started celebrating its star turn on Groundhog Day 1994, a year after the movie was released.

“It was a small gathering, a handful of people,” Bellairs said. “Since then, it’s grown each year to include having a live groundhog come to having a polka band come and from one day to several days. It’s something silly and fun in the middle of winter, a good chance to get outside and do something different.”

And people do come, some from as far away as Australia and Germany, Bellairs said.

“It is exciting to meet people who come each year from across the country and beyond,” he said.“It’s so great to see how happy they are, how much fun they are having and how much they love Woodstock.”

Jaki Berggren, president and CEO of Naturally McHenry County, said Woodstock Groundhog Days’ continued popularity is a testament not only to the enduring appeal of the film, but also to the endearing nature of the town.

“This is one we all look forward to,” Berggren said, “no matter what the groundhog predicts.”

Among this year’s special attractions for film aficionados is the return of Danny Rubin, who wrote the original story and co-wrote the BAFTA award-winning screenplay with late director Harold Ramis, according to a news release.

Rubin will be at the prognostication on Groundhog Day. He will then address an audience at 2 p.m. at the Woodstock Opera House.

“For those who may ask how many days is Phil stuck in his time loop, or how did he get stuck there, they can come hear it from the man who wrote the story,” Bellairs said, adding that the Opera House event, like many during Groundhog Days, is free.

Also highlighted are walking tours led by film production manager Bob Hudgins. These will take place at 10 a.m. Feb. 2 and 1 p.m. both Feb. 4 and Feb. 5.

“Hudgins was the coordinator between Columbia Pictures, Harold Ramis and the City of Woodstock,” Bellairs said. “He has a lot of fun, behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the movie.”

Classic Cinemas Woodstock Theatre will screen “Groundhog Day” at 7 p.m. Feb. 1, noon Feb. 2, 10 a.m. Feb. 4 and 10 a.m. Feb. 5. Cost is $2. A detailed list of all the other Groundhog Days festivities can be found at woodstockgroundhog.org.