So, you’ve decided to take the plunge. You’ve heard about this groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. You’ve found Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on your road atlas. What else do you need to know, right?

Let’s start off with the stuff that will surprise you.

Plan early, come early
Groundhog Day makes hotel booking in the borough of Punxsutawney difficult. If you want to sleep in town on Groundhog Eve, you need to book well in advance. Otherwise, plan to drive from one of the neighboring towns such as Brookville, Indiana or DuBois, meaning a drive of at least 20 miles. On the upside, an early arrival allows you to enjoy the events that go on for the few days before Groundhog Day.

Expect crowds

Groundhog Day crowds typically exceed 30,000 people. Keep in mind Punxsutawney and its surrounding area only constitute 15,000 or so people. The roads and the town aren’t built for the horde that descends upon us each Feb. 2.

There will be lines and crowds everywhere you go. This especially applies if you are seeking to stop at the souvenir shop.

You cannot drive directly to the site

Visitors to Gobbler’s Knob (where the groundhog shenanigans take place) are not allowed to drive directly there. Multiple locations are established around town where you will be bused to Gobbler’s Knob. Plan to arrive at the bus stop no later than 3am if you intend to get a decent spot to view the event.

You are allowed to travel to the Knob by foot. However, the walk may exceed one mile depending on your starting point. And the line is still long.

Get up early

If you expect to awake at 6am and have a shot at even arriving at Gobbler’s Knob, you will be sorely disappointed. In a typical year the main groundhog prognostication event is over by 7:15 am.

Expect cold

There are very few years when the temperature is not below freezing on Groundhog Day. It is not unusual for winter night time temperatures in Punxsutawney to dip down to -5. Plan accordingly.

A good layer of thermals such as long johns with a good winter coat over it will do the job. If you have hunting gear, this wouldn’t be a bad time to wear it.
The cold is generally a plus. A warm year can mean mud. Picture 30,000 people milling around outdoors on a 40 degree morning. Those years really suck.

Expect outdoors

The event is an outdoor event. There aren’t serious efforts made to build shelters or aid stations. People with health issues should forgo the trip to Gobbler’s Knob. If you have a health issue and you opt to go to the Knob, please bring a friend who is experienced in helping with your issues.

Expect college students

Groundhog Day is like a key function for area college students. There will be lots of them there. While they are mostly civilized, you probably will want to ignore their language and behavior.

And it is not a myth that the Groundhog Day event is a big function for stoners to attend. The year I went there to shoot photography I was asked multiple times if I was the guy sent by High Times to shoot the event. My winter look is shall we say rural/grunge; wise people don’t venture single-digit temps without a full beard and knit cap.

Stand next to the right people and you will get a contact buzz.

Please leave the young ones at home

There is a tendency for parents to bring younger children. Don’t. It isn’t a wise idea, because most of the event is milling and freezing. Those are fine things if you’re old enough to have an attention span and some old stories to tell. It sucks if you’re seven.

Expect police

The event is heavily policed, with reinforcements typically brought in from surrounding state police barracks. The fire department and EMTs are also out in force.

Don’t fret the cops, though. They’re there to maintain order, not to bust heads. If High Times readers can handle the police presence, I think you’ll manage.

Stick around

Once the main groundhog event is over, there is a lot of stuff going on downtown. There are usually ice sculptors, performers and concessions. The Weather Discovery Center is open — it has non-groundhog stuff that is both scientific and fun to play with. Your mileage may vary, but most years there is a good throng of folks out on the town.

It is a good chance to go people watching. I’ve run into more than a few old friends from high school and college on Groundhog Day.

Whatever you do, don’t just bolt from town. Folks took some time to set all this up. Stop and enjoy it.