PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow Sunday and predicted six more weeks of wintry weather, his top-hatted handlers announced to a raucous, record-sized crowd at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania. Phil was welcomed with chants of "Phil, Phil, Phil," and pulled from his hatch on his tree stump shortly after sunrise before a member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club read from a scroll on which he boasted: "Only I know — you can't trust A.I." The woodchuck’s weather forecast is an annual ritual dating back more than a century, with deep roots in European folklore. It was Bill Murray’s classic 1993 film, "Groundhog Day," which propelled the event to its current prominence, attracting tens of thousands of revelers and imitators across the United States and beyond.
Traditionally, if Phil does not see his shadow, it signals the arrival of early spring; if he does, it means six more weeks of winter. This year's celebration included fireworks, confetti, and live music ranging from the Ramones to Pennsylvania Polka as crowds awaited Phil's grand emergence.
Among the anticipated audience were Gov. Josh Shapiro, local and state officials, as well as various pageant winners. Self-employed New York gingerbread artist Jon Lovitch, who has attended for 33 years, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I like the cold, you know, and this is probably the best and biggest midwinter party in the entire world." This year’s event saw Phil predict another longer winter, continuing his trend of forecasting extended cold weather more often than early springs.
Tom Dunkel, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, noted the diverse crowd at Gobbler's Knob, consisting of those seeking affirmation of their beliefs and those hoping to debunk the myth. Phil communicated his prediction to Dunkel through “Groundhog-ese,” with the aid of a special cane passed down through generations of club leaders. "He’ll like wink, he’ll purr, he’ll chatter, he’ll — you know — nod," Dunkel explained, emphasizing the creative traditions behind the event.
Attendance to the festival is free, but it cost $5 to ride buses from town to the stage where Phil’s prediction takes place, located roughly 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. This necessity for shuttling visitors has led local schools to close on weekdays when Groundhog Day falls. Keith Post, who traveled from Ohio, remarked on their well-planned trip, stating, “We booked rooms almost a year in advance and we’re here. We’re doing it.”
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club has also created supportive infrastructure for the growing festival, including large video screens and upgraded speakers this year, making it easier for the throngs gathered to engage with the proceedings. "It’s a holiday where you don’t really owe anyone anything," A.J. Dereume, part of the club’s inner circle, noted. “You’re grasping onto the belief, you know, in something that's just fun to believe in.”
Phil’s family—Punxsutawney Phyllis and their two pups, Shadow and Sunny—did not join him on stage for the big moment but are cared for and receive regular veterinary check-ups, emphasizing the commitment to keeping Phil’s legacy alive. According to the club, Phil has been the same groundhog making predictions for over 100 years, sustained by the mythical “elixir of life” which keeps him immortal. Dunkel firmly declared, "There’s only one Phil, and it’s not something can be handed down," comparing him to Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
Groundhog Day events extend beyond Punxsutawney, with celebrations reported in at least 28 U.S. states and Canadian provinces on this day. While Phil announced more winter, other groundhogs like those at the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge and Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia have different fortunes, leading to various interpretations of seasonal changes.
This beloved Pennsylvania tradition continues to thrive, bringing people together each year amid winter's chill. The joy and camaraderie shared at Gobbler’s Knob reaffirm the lighthearted spirit of Groundhog Day, reminding all who gather the magic of folklore and collective experience.