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Blue Grass Garden Centre has hosted the Balzac Billy Groundhog Day forecast for 14 years, with Friday’s event marking the 21st time Balzac Billy has made a weather prediction. Before 2011, the event was held at the Balzac Community Hall. Balzac Billy is the "Prairie Prognosticator", a man-sized groundhog mascot who prognosticates weather on Groundhog Day. [1] [2] He lives in Balzac, Alberta, 8 km north of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. [3] According to the legend of Groundhog Day, the groundhog's behavior is a way of forecasting the weather. If the groundhog sees his shadow, it will It’s not the news we wanted to hear, Alberta’s own Balzac Billy is predicting six more weeks of winter. Just before 8:30 a.m. Friday, a crowd gathered outside the Blue Grass Nursery and Garden Centre to await the man-sized mascot. Anticipation was building as attendees chanted “Billy! Billy! Billy!” and waited for good news. Alberta’s “groundhog,” Balzac Billy, predicted six more weeks of winter this morning.. Legend has it that, on February 2nd, if the groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, winter will last another six weeks. Groundhog Day in Alberta is just around the corner and Balzac Billy will soon make his biggest appearance of 2024. Highly anticipated by people all over the world, this year’s event will take place on February 2nd bright and early in the morning. In Alberta, we have Balzac Billy, a hog in disguise. Today, Billy greeted people in person at the Blue Grass Nursery and Garden Centre, A recap of Groundhog Day predictions, 2020-2023. The Groundhog Day tradition continued Thursday, and Alberta’s Balzac Billy bucked the trend from other groundhogs as he did not see his shadow, predicting an early spring. In the event, which was also live-streamed on Facebook, the “Prairie Prognosticator,” who is a man-sized groundhog mascot, appeared just after 8 a.m. Groundhog Day continues to be a weird, but wonderful tradition every February 2 – in Alberta, across Canada and throughout the United States. Pennsylvania is home to Punxsutawney Phil, a furry forecaster featured in the Bill Murray holiday classic from Gobbler’s Knob. Balzac Billy is Alberta’s favourite groundhog and weather guru, and he’s just made a much-anticipated announcement, but it might not be what many are hoping to hear. At an event early this morning, Billy emerged from his burrow and was greeted by his shadow. Balzac Billy is the “Prairie Prognosticator”, a man-sized gopher mascot who prognosticates weather on Groundhog Day from the town of Balzac, Alberta. Billy is not a real groundhog because groundhogs are not native to Alberta. Instead, Billy is more properly a Richardson Ground Squirrel (ie, a gopher) who lives in a man-sized burrow outside Groundhog Day Celebrations occuring in 2025. The Groundhog Day 2025 season is now under way! Alberta T4A 0M9: Wanda the Groundhog: Groundhog: 02/02/25: 9:00am Balzac Billy, Alberta’s prairie groundhog, started as a 1978 radio gimmick and has since become a cherished mascot for Groundhog Day. Now a symbol of communi There are 81 prognosticators throughout North America: 67 in the USA, and 14 in Canada. Use the map to find your nearest Groundhog Day prognosticator (unless you’re from Saskatchewan — sorry bud). Alberta's "groundhog," Balzac Billy predicted early spring today morning.Legend has it that, on February 2nd, if the groundhog emerges from its burrow, and sees its shadow, winter will last for another six weeks. If it doesn’t see its shadow, winter will be shorter.Balzac Billy is not a real groundhog and is a mascot from the town of Balzac, 24km north of Calgary.The origins of Balzac Billy Groundhog Day is back, Alberta, and Balzac Billy has officially made his prediction for the 2023 season! A ritual first brought to the U.S. by German immigrants, North America’s very first groundhog day was actually held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in 1887. The rodent from the west has awoken and given his prediction. Is it six more weeks of winter? Or an early spring?Become a weather junkie -- SUBSCRIBE NOWFo Meanwhile, Alberta’s favourite "Prairie Prognosticator," Balzac Billy, is preparing to make his annual weather prediction on Sunday, Feb. 2, during the 22nd yearly Groundhog Day Breakfast. The Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the event from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Blue Grass Nursery & Garden Centre, south of CrossIron Mills. Alberta. In Alberta, we have Balzac Billy, a critter in disguise. Manitoba Merv has been leading local Groundhog Day celebrations for over 30 years. See a list of all 82 prognosticators, whether genuine groundhogs or otherwise. Despite the name, GROUNDHOG-DAY.com is all-welcoming. Alberta’s Groundhog Day weather predictor, Balzac Billy, resides in Balzac, 24km north of Calgary. Unlike most other Canadian February 2nd celebrities, Billy is a gopher or a Richardson Ground Squirrel – a common species in Alberta.
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