Gobbler’s Knob and Trail 1548 Woodland Avenue Ext. Punxsutawney, PA 15767

Gobbler’s Knob and Trail 1548 Woodland Avenue Ext. Punxsutawney, PA 15767

Gobbler’s Knob and Trail

1548 Woodland Avenue Ext.

Punxsutawney, PA 15767

https://www.facebook.com/weathercapital

https://www.groundhog.org/getting-here-and-around

Open: Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm/Monday-Tuesday Closed/Wednesday-Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm (Visitors Center) Site open: Dawn to Dusk.

Admission: Free

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g53500-d106564-r936944434-Gobbler_s_Knob-Punxsutawney_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

My review on Exploring Punxsutawney, PA for Groundhog’s Day:

(this will give you some great places to stay, eat and visit)

https://mywalkinmanhattan.com/category/exploring-punxsutawney-pa

The entrance to Gobbler’s Knob when you arrive in the morning.

“Are you off to see the Groundhog?” is a famous line in the movie “Groundhog’s Day”. The one thing is that the scene in the movie was shot in the square of Woodstock, ID. The real Gobbler’s Knob is located in Punxsutawney, PA, the real home of Phil.

The welcome sign to Gobblers Knob.

Located just outside the downtown (ironically behind a Walmart; talk about progress), Gobblers Knob is located in what was once woods in the back of town has become an open field with a stage, Visitors Center and gift shop. Every years thousands of people flock to this small town literally in the middle of Pennsylvania to see the Groundhog’s Day Festival.

Taking the bus to Gobblers Knob on Groundhog’s Day morning.

Gobbler’ Knob is the famous home of the “Groundhogs Day” festival and swells into a crowd of more than thirty thousand people from all over the world. It is an incredible event to join in.

I attended the festivities here twice. Once in 2016 and again in 2024 and I have to say that it is something you have to do once in your life just to experience the excitement of the morning that Phil sees his shadow.

Arriving in the morning for the prediction.

The signs were out and lit for the prediction. No one knew how Phil would react. Would he see his shadow or not?

They emphasize both predictions.

The History of Groundhog’s Day (From the Groundhog’s Club website):

The Christian religious holiday of Candlemas Day has become most commonly associated with the current celebration, but it’s roots are older than that. The celebration started in Christianity as the day, (February 2nd), when Christians would take their candles to the church to have them blessed. This, they felt, would bring blessings to their household for the remaining winter.

As time rolled on the day evolved into another form. The following English folk song highlights the transition to weather prognostication.

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.

This “interpretation” of Candlemas Day became the norm for most of Europe. As you can read, there is no mention of an animal of any kind in the preceding song. It wasn’t until this traditional belief was introduced to Germany that an animal was introduced into the lore, hence another evolution of February 2nd. If, according to German lore, the hedgehog saw his shadow on Candlemas Day there would be a “Second Winter” or 6 more weeks of bad weather. As German settlers came to what is now the United States, so too came their traditions and folklore. With the absence of hedgehogs in the United States, a similar hibernating animal was chosen. This leads us to yet another evolution in the legend and to present day Punxsutawney.

In Punxsutawney, 1886 marked the first time that Groundhog Day appeared in the local newspaper. The following year brought the first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob. Each year since then has seen a steady increase in participation of the celebration from people all over the world.

When the knob is full that morning you can feel the excitement of the crowd. From three in the morning until Phil comes out to make his prediction, there are all sorts of bands, comedians and singers to entertain the crowds all morning.

The main stage in the distance.

The crowds get bigger as the morning gets later, most arriving before 6:00am.

The singers entertaining the crowds.

The stage was always filled with entertainment acts.

The entertainment for the evening until the top hats arrive and the fun begins. First they are the introductions of the VIPs, like the Governor of Pennsylvania showed up as well as all the other politicians to follow him.

The governor of Pennsylvania talking to the crowd.

Watch my video of Phil seeing his shadow in 2024:

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Then there is a fantastic fireworks display. This lasted about a half hour.

The fire works were amazing that morning.

Watch the fireworks display and you will see why you need to be there at 3:00am to enjoy the festivities:

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The fireworks display.

The video on the finale was the best:

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Then the camera’s arrive and it time for the prediction. Will it be an early Spring or will Winter keep going.

It’s time to start the show.

The arrival of the Punxsutawney Groundhog’s Club starts the program.

Phil did not see his shadow in 2024. Spring is on its way!

On the day after Groundhog’s Day, I went back to Gobblers Knob to visit it when it wasn’t so chaotic and crowded. It can magical in its own way in that you see the field and knob empty and realize that people all over the world watch the activities here every February 2nd. It is fascinating to just think about.

The entrance to Gobblers Knob the Saturday after Groundhog’s Day 2024.

The history of the site.

The historical marker of the site.

The stage area when it is quiet.

The end of the ceremony on Groundhog’s Day people were still milling around.

Gobbler’s Knob from the stage area.

The entrance display to the field.

The field when things were quiet after the event the next day.

Groundhogs Day in Punxsutawney, PA is a real experience that you should experience once. To sit out in the field with thousands of others to celebrate the day is a lot of fun. Until next year.

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