There’s more than one weather-predicting marmot out there.
Punxsuawney Phil is obviously the best known of all Groundhog Day celebrants, but there are several others in Pennsylvania and beyond who also practice forecasting. If you’re intrigued by the idea of how a rodent treats the end of winter, here are a few more options to try:
Lancaster
For a third year, Millersville-based Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation will be teaming up with Our Town Brewery for Poppy’s annual Groundhog Day scavenger hunt. This event, featuring Poppy the Groundhog and her little brother Elliot, will take place over several days at a number of Lancaster area locations.
On February 2nd the launch event will take place at Hempfield Apothetique in Lancaster from 10am with the official forecast at 11am. Other events will take place at Decades, LancasterRec, Ville & Rue, Clipper Stadium and others between February 2nd and February 5th
For more information and a full schedule, follow us on Facebook or Visit Lancaster City’s website.
mountain of joy
The Mount Joy Chamber of Commerce will gather with the public at 7am on February 2nd to see the reaction of their groundhog, Mount Joy Minnie. Guests can enjoy hot drinks from the American LEgion Post 185 and donuts from Voyage Mount Joy and participate in a crazy hat contest.
The event will take place at Mount Joy’s Rotary Clock, located at Marietta Avenue and East Main Street.
Click here for more information.
Municipality of Mannheim
The Municipality of Manheim is hosting its third annual Groundhog Day celebration on February 2nd at 7am. The event takes place at the Carriage House in the Stauffer Mansion on Lititz Pike in Lancaster and is free to attend.
The celebration revolves around MT Parker, a plush groundhog who will make a prediction for the end of winter. This family-friendly event also features arts and crafts, hot chocolate, and music. The forecast takes place at sunrise.
More information can be found here.
Myerstown
In Myerstown, Union Kanaal Grundsau Lodsch #17 of East Lebanon District holds its traditional Groundhog Day event. The organization focuses on preserving Dutch culture and language in Pennsylvania and has hosted the event every year since 1981.
This year the event will take place at 8am at Myerstown Recreation Park on South College Street. Your groundhog Uni will make a prediction for the end of winter.
See the Facebook event page for details.
And if you want to learn more about Pennsylvania Dutch culture and history, don’t miss these other stories from PennLive:
- When is groundhog day? And why are we celebrating this?
- Pennsylvania witch signs actually protect witches?
Staten Island
Pennsylvanians don’t have a monopoly on Groundhog Day (although we’re obviously the best at it). Our neighbors in New York have their own groundhog that lives on Staten Island.
Staten Island Chuck will be the center of attention at his own Groundhog Day livestream event, courtesy of the Staten Island Zoo. If for some reason you’re not interested in watching Punxsutawney Phil’s live event on February 2nd, you can tune in to Chuck’s instead.
To learn more about Chuck, read the Staten Island Live story here. And if you’re upset that New Yorkers are trying to steal a little of our shine, just remember that they had to endure the Empire State Building being lit up in Eagles colors over the weekend.
CONTINUE READING: The Empire State Building was decked out in Eagles colors after Philly’s win, and some New Yorkers weren’t happy