Phil's notoriety now draws visitors year-round

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. -- Ryan Parmenter drove eight hours from Rhode Island to celebrate Groundhog Day.

Parmenter, 25, made a Punxsutawney Phil costume from an old Santa suit to come to the town the locals call "Punxsie."

"I've been obsessed with Groundhog Day since I saw the movie years ago. This is my first year here and I came by myself," Parmenter said while drinking a local beer, Groundhog Brew. "This is my first time in Pennsylvania."

Parmenter posed for pictures with others in the bar almost continuously, and was stopped on the street for hugs.

"People think I'm working. but I'm not. I just really wanted to do this," Parmenter said, lifting up the groundhog headpiece of the costume.

And while Parmenter said he didn't know anyone in Rhode Island who knew what Groundhog Day is, it was apparent in this town's streets what the day would bring.

Storefronts are decorated with groundhogs and related merchandise, and ice sculptures line the main street. Tourists and locals shared the sidewalk Thursday night in the hours preceding the annual daybreak prediction, many wearing groundhog hats. Fiberglass statues of groundhogs decorated downtown, similar to the Penguin Parade in Youngstown and the planned Spectacle of Speed project in Warren.

Coordinators this year said they expect 25,000 people to visit the city for this year's festivities, which last three days. The highlight is today, Feb. 2, when the town's top rodent, Punxsutawney Phil, makes his traditional prediction for the length of the winter, determined by whether or not he sees his shadow.

According to folklore, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.

Coordinators said there had been some attempts by Phil in the past to escape during parades, but they've had no major mishaps in the event's 150-year history.

The festivities are coordinated by the Groundhog Club Inner Circle. One member, Ron Ploucha, said that Groundhog Day is important to the economy of the city.

"Without Punxsutawney Phil, Punxsutawney would be another depressed town like a lot of small towns in Pennsylvania," Ploucha said. "We have a tremendous influx of tourists. And really, it's not just Groundhog Day, but 365 days a year people come to see Punxsawtaney... Groundhog Day means a lot to the small businesses here in town."

Ploucha said he is in charge of entertainment at Gobbler's Knob, where the prediction is given. Officials expect the prediction to come around 7:25 a.m.

The gate for Gobbler's Knob opens at 3 a.m. with on-stage entertainment, fireworks and a bonfire.

"Groundhog Day is a very special time in Punxsutawney. It's a mix between a winter carnival and a big party," Ploucha said. "We have people from all over the world who come here. The movie really made us famous, so we go out of our way to make sure everybody has a good time. It's something they won't forget."

Kim Frye, executive director of the Punxsutawney Area Community Center, operates a venue known as the Crashpad, which offers space for those visitors to sleep.

"We have a lot of people come here from all over the world, and that's why we do this. We're providing a roof over heads for people," Frye said.

Frye said she expected about 300 people to sleep at the center, where there are bathrooms and showers available to the public. There's also coffee, hot chocolate and popcorn available all night.

"We get people from everywhere. They've come here from England, Ireland and Australia. People come here thinking there's a lot of hotels and there's not," Frye said. "We're giving those people a safe place to stay."

Officials said, however, that they expected many to forego sleeping to take part in the nightlife. The streets of Punxsutawney were busy Thursday night with people going to bars, restaurants and some family venues. Many wore Mardi Gras beads near the town center, where food vendors were open through the night.

Shuttle service is offered from the Crashpad to Gobbler's Knob, where Vindy.com will report with video footage of Punxsutawney Phil's predication.