February 1st, 2024 through February 4th, 2024, marks the annual Woodstock Groundhog Days Festival, celebrating the beloved film “Groundhog Day” and its place in Woodstock history.  It’s a festival that is made possible by the community businesses and local residents in the area.  This year, Kunes CDJR of Woodstock is honored to be one of the local sponsors for this historic celebration. The festival that features a fun-filled week of movies, tours, games, memorabilia, special guests, prognostication, and all things groundhog will begin!

“Groundhog Day” was directed by the late Harold Ramis and starred Bill Murray. The film was originally supposed to be shot in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, but Ramis and his team found the location to be too restrictive. They eventually settled on Woodstock, Illinois, due to its proximity to Chicago and the availability of resources nearby. In total, about 15 local sites were used in the film, many of which now have permanent plaques marking their significance.

There will be many events going on throughout the week.  There’s the Groundhog Day Prognostication event, where you can join in on the age-old tradition of predicting whether or not the groundhog will see its shadow.  For those interested in learning more about the behind-the-scenes of the film, the Walking Tour of Filming Sites is a must-attend event!  Guests will get to visit the actual locations used in the film and learn about the production process from the experts.

For a full list of Groundhog Day events taking place in Woodstock that week, click here.

As the years have passed, “Groundhog Day” has become a cult classic, and its popularity continues to grow. The film is still cherished by the residents of Woodstock and continues to be the heart of the annual festival.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity to participate in the Woodstock Groundhog Days festival and join on the celebration of this beloved film.