The One Annual Winter Festival In Illinois Every Illinoisan Should Bundle Up For At Least Once

There are plenty of things to celebrate throughout the winter including the one day of the year that will tell us if we should expect six more weeks of winter or if spring weather will soon arrive. The traditional Groundhog Day celebration predicts the arrival of spring and there's no better place to celebrate it than in Woodstock at its annual winter festival in Illinois.

Woodstock's Groundhog Days celebration is only something that can be celebrated in Illinois. It's in this town that, back in 1992, a film crew arrived to shoot the iconic movie, Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

Many events throughout the celebration are free. Groundhog Days is a wonderful five-day, family-friendly event in celebration of both Groundhog Day and the movie by the same name.

The annual Groundhog Days event will take place from January 28 through February 2, 2022. The event will kick off the evening of January 28 at 6 p.m. with the arrival of the town mascot, Woodstock Willie, in front of the Woodstock Opera House. Groundhog Trivia at the Opera House will follow.

On this night at the Woodstock Moose Lodge is the Groundhog Day Dinner Dance from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. You can enjoy a buffet dinner and then dance the night away to live music.

Throughout the event, there will be showings of Groundhog Day at Classic Cinemas Woodstock Theatre. The cost to see the 1992 film on the big screen is just $2 per ticket.

At the Woodstock Public Library, you can view memorabilia from the movie. You'll see an autographed script, pictures, props, and more.

The last day of festivities is on February 2nd which happens to be Groundhog Day! Meet in Woodstock Square at 7 a.m. for the Groundhog Day Prognostication. This is when the question, "Will there or won't there be six more weeks of winter weather?" will be answered.

If the groundhog sees its shadow, expect six more weeks of winter weather! If it doesn't, then spring will arrive early.

Be sure to bundle up for the cold weather as you wait to see if the live groundhog will see its shadow. In the meantime, enjoy live music by the Groundhog Day polka band!

You'll also get to see a local craftsman carve a new, custom groundhog out of wood right in the town square.

Have you ever attended Groundhog Days, a winter festival in Illinois? Have you seen the movie Groundhog Day? Let us know in the comments. For more information and to view a list of all events, visit the Groundhog Days website and Facebook page.

To learn more about the charming town of Woodstock, read this article.