Woodstock Willie Ready To Make Annual Groundhog Day Prediction
(CBS) -- In northwest suburban Woodstock, festivities continue through tomorrow to mark "Groundhog Day" where the classic Bill Murray movie was shot 24 years ago.
Woodstock's Groundhog Day festival culminates with Woodstock Willie the groundhog predicting whether there'll be another six weeks of winter.
One of the organizers of the event, Rick Bellairs, says people come from all over the country and the world to be part of the fun. He said there are people from Portland, Oregon as well as from Germany.
He says, a couple from Florida who got married on Groundhog Day 2002 and will be renewing their wedding vows tomorrow in Woodstock.
As for how director Harold Ramis and actor Bill Murray selected Woodstock in the first place, Bellairs says, "They were looking up in Wisconsin and couldn't find quite the setting they were looking for. On way back to Chicago, they did a detour and they pulled up Main Street, turned onto Woodstock Square, and the way I hear it, Harold Ramis said, 'This is it.'"
Next year is the 25th anniversary of the filming of the movie.
We should know a little after seven tomorrow morning whether Woodstock Willie sees his shadow or not. Even still, another six weeks of this winter wouldn't be so bad.
Bellairs says tomorrow's festivities begin around 6:30 or 6:45 with Corky Siegel entertaining the crowd.