The groundhog ceremony near Punxsutawney became the most well-known, using a groundhog named Phil. Since reliable sky cover statistics became available (1957 in Peoria, and 1950 in Springfield), Groundhog Day sunrise in our area has been cloudy or mostly cloudy about 2/3 of the time. Peoria, IL (WMBD)- Since the late 1880s February 2nd has been celebrate as Groundhog Day. A way to “predict” when the winter weather moves on to make way for spring. If our groundhog fr A Groundhog Day Celebration will take place at Wildlife Prairie Park beginning at at 6 am. Gertie the Groundhog will make the official prediction of whether or not there will be six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Clouds and fog may keep Gertie the groundhog from seeing her shadow. Peoria welcomed the year’s first 2 newborns . East Peoria, IL 61611 (309) 698-2525 In preparation for the 2024 Groundhog Day celebration at Wildlife Prairie Park, we sat down with Lead Naturalist Bryant Brumbill and Gertie the Groundhog herself. Peoria 2023 crime statistics Groundhog Day is in less than 2 weeks! IL · Gertie the Groundhog is getting ready for her big day! Jeanne Curtis, this is Peoria’s groundhog, Gertie. 15w Ever since the very first groundhog day all the way back in 1887 in Pennsylvania - it’s been a tradition for a groundhog to check for its own shadow on February 2 Gertie's Groundhog's Day Celebration sun02feb6:00 am sun3:00 pm Event Details Gertie’s Groundhog’s Day Celebration will be held at Wildlife Prairie Park from 6 am – 9 am. Central Illinois was hit with a very large and impactful Winter Storm on Groundhog Day, 11 years to the day it happened in 2011. East Peoria, IL 61611 (309) 698 Wildlife Prairie Park is a 501c3 not for profit 1,800-acre zoological park located just 10 miles west of Peoria, IL in Hanna City. The Park’s mission encompasses conservation, education, and recreation development in this unique habitat in the Midwest. Address: 3826 N. Taylor Road Hanna City, IL 61536. Phone: 309-676-0998 Peoria, IL (WMBD)- Your Local Weather Authority is back with an awkward silence and some stats on January and Groundhog Day. Our This Day in Weather History was a little different. We looked to On Groundhog Day 2011 and beyond, residents dug out. The area's high mark was 19.3 inches in St. David, followed by 18.5 in Avon, 17.9 inches in Princeville, 17 in Germantown Hills and 16 inches The groundhog ceremony near Punxsutawney became the most well-known, using a groundhog named Phil. Since reliable sky cover statistics became available (1957 in Peoria, and 1950 in Springfield), Groundhog Day sunrise in our area has been cloudy or mostly cloudy about 63% of the time. Our events run from Thursday, January 30th until Sunday, February 2nd. Meet our special guest, Stephen Tobolowsky aka Ned Ryerson – BING! New events this year include the inaugural 5K run past many of the familiar places in the movie, the Broadway musical ‘Groundhog Day’ live on stage in the Woodstock Opera House, and Storybook Players for kids. Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-prognosticating groundhog, during the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., on Friday. Updated February 2, 2024 at 8:07 AM ET The park’s staff also shared about the history behind Groundhog day. Barry Cloyd, a local musician sang and taught the audience his traditional “Wake up Gertie” song. Peoria 2023 crime Groundhog Day movie times and local cinemas near Peoria, IL. Showtimes for "Groundhog Day" near Peoria, IL are available on: 1/30/2025. Find Theaters & Showtimes record at Peoria. Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, then spring will come early. If it is sunny, the groundhog will see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and winter weather will continue for six more weeks. Specific weather data follows. Gertie the Groundhog is a celebrated meteorologist from Wildlife Prairie State Park, Illinois. Since 1993, Gertie has been predicting the weather on February 2nd from her wildlife chalet, inspiring local musician Barry Cloyd to write the original, hit song “Wake-Up Gertie.”
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