Wiarton Willie is another of Canada’s most well-known groundhogs, who, along with his successors (each named Willie), has been making prognostications since 1957. Wiarton Willie of the Town of Wiarton in Southern Bruce Peninsula is so famous there is usually a huge festival dedicated to the event with morning fireworks. The Wiarton Willie Festival draws people in from all over Ontario and the 2025 rendition is set to be a fun one. The festival. Happening in the community of Wiarton located in South Bruce Peninsula, the festival kicks off on Jan. 31 and runs until Feb. 2. Between the 31st and the 2nd, there will be a little something for everyone. Wiarton Willie festival weekend full of winter fun 2025-01-28 - GREG COWAN Wiarton Willie may help put an early end to winter this Groundhog Day, Sunday, Feb. 2, at the future home of the new south Bruce Peninsula town hall (370 William. Street) in Wiarton near Bluewater Park. Wiarton, Ontario is home to Wiarton Willie, the star of an annual local Groundhog Day festival bearing his name. Willie is apparently the world's only albino prognosticating groundhog. Québec. Fred la Marmotte has been the headlining act in Val-d'Espoir, Qué., since 2009. The Wiarton Willie Hockey Dance at the Wiarton Arena runs on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and features the Fat Boy Tony Band and Grey Road One. Tickets are $20 and are available for purchase at the rink and The Silo. The Wiarton and District Curling Club is hosting a Wiarton Willie Groundhog Mixed Curling Bonspiel on Saturday, Feb. 1. Wiarton Willie Hockey Dance (Sat Feb 1, 2025) Dance Sat Feb 1, 2025 from 8pm to 2am. Music featuring Fat Boy Tony Band and Grey Road One. $20/per ticket at the Wiarton Arena. Wiarton Willie Hockey Tournament (Jan 31 to Feb 2, 2025) Pancake Breakfast (Feb 1, 2025) The St. John's United Church Wiarton Willie Pancake Breakfast. Feb 1 from 8am to 12 Wiarton Wille is Canada’s most famous prognosticating groundhog, from the town of Wiarton, Ontario. Willie is a white groundhog whose coming was foretold as one who would forever alter the world of weather prognostication. Every February 2nd, Willie announces his prediction in Groundhogese to The Mayor of the Land and of the Marmot, the only The Groundhog Day concept first became popular in Canada in 1956 when Wiarton Willie became a household name for his early February weather predictions. Wiarton’s Groundhog Day festival grew as Willie’s fame increased. It became one of the largest winter festivals in Bruce County, Canada. [adinserter block="1"] As the most famous groundhog in Canada and the only albino weather prognosticator in the world, Wiarton Willie's prediction of the timing of spring is a news event that captures the interests of people around the world. With all eyes on Wiarton Willie, the question lingers: will he cast a shadow, foretelling six more weeks of winter, or will his absence of a shadow A monument to Wiarton Willie in Bluewater Park. Wiarton Willie is the name given to a Canadian groundhog who lives in the community of Wiarton in Bruce County, Ontario. Every February 2, on Groundhog Day, Willie takes part in the local Wiarton Willie Festival. His role is to predict whether there will be an early spring. Although the original Wiarton Willie, a white groundhog that lives in Wiarton, Ont., has predicted an early spring, matching similar forecasts from Punxsutawney Phil, Fred la marmotte and Shubenacadie Sam. Lucy the Canada’s list of Groundhog Day predictors also include Lucy the Lobster, TR Tunnel, Shubenacadie Sam, Okanagan Okie, Balzac Billy, Van Isle Violet, Fred la Marmotte and Manitoba Merv. Wiarton Willie Festival . What: Visit Wiarton on February 2 to wake up Willie at 7am with fireworks, and catch the official prediction at 8:07am. Wiarton Willie is a prognosticating Groundhog from Wiarton in Ontario, Canada. Wiarton Willie has made 61 predictions since 1955. It’s Groundhog Day, and as folklore goes, a groundhog will emerge from its burrow and if it does not see its shadow, then spring is just around the corner, w The Legacy of Groundhog Day. Groundhog Day’s enduring popularity stems from its combination of folklore, community spirit, and humor. It offers a moment of levity in the depths of winter and connects people to nature and the changing seasons. Bill Murray Groundhog Day. The holiday gained additional cultural significance with the 1993 film There are 14 weather-predicting Canadian groundhogs who made predictions in 2024.. Use the Groundhog Map to locate your fave canuk prognosticator. Six more weeks of winter in groundhog language means long winter. Ontario’s Wiarton Willie and Quebec’s newest Fred the Marmot (the previous prognosticator died last year) predicted early spring. Apart from Okanagan Okie, the consensus among Western Canada’s clairvoyant critters was for a prolonged winter. Today, the town hosts a week-long festival, in which all eyes are on the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. In Canada, Wiarton Willie, of Wiarton, Ontario, is the most famous groundhog and has been predicting the weather since 1956. Like Punxsutawney Phil, Wiarton Willie is not a wild groundhog. South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Jay Kirkland announces an early spring with Wiarton Willie during a Groundhog Day event in Wiarton, Ont. on Friday, Feb.2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ball The Groundhog Day concept first became popular in Canada in 1956 when Wiarton Willie became a household name for his early February weather predictions. Wiarton’s Groundhog Day festival grew as Willie’s fame increased.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.