Direct answer: Groundhog Day 2027 falls on Tuesday, February 2, 2027. At Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil will emerge in the early morning and, according to folklore, either see his shadow — meaning six more weeks of winter — or not see it, meaning an early spring.
Phil’s Groundhog Day 2027 prediction is not known yet; it is made live on the morning itself. His most recent prediction, in 2026, was six more weeks of winter, after he saw his shadow.
Why February 2? The halfway point of winter
February 2 sits almost exactly halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The date was already marked in Europe as Candlemas, and folk belief held that the weather on Candlemas hinted at the rest of winter.
If Candlemas is fair and bright, winter will have another flight; if it brings clouds and rain, winter is on its way out. German immigrants — the Pennsylvania Dutch — brought a version of that belief to Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries.
In Germany the forecasting animal was the badger. In Pennsylvania, with groundhogs plentiful, the groundhog took the job. If the animal emerged on February 2 and saw its shadow on a bright day, it would retreat into its burrow, and winter would last six more weeks.
On a cloudy day, with no shadow to frighten it, it would stay out — and spring, the story went, was on its way.
From a local outing to a national ritual
Punxsutawney’s tradition grew out of a groundhog-hunting outing among friends. Local newspaper editor Clymer Freas promoted the idea in 1886, and the first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob took place on February 2, 1887.
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club — its members in top hats and formal coats, known as the Inner Circle — still runs the ceremony today. Phil himself was not always called Phil. The name Punxsutawney Phil, said to be after King Philip, came later.
According to the club’s playful legend, Phil is the same groundhog every year, kept young by a secret ‘elixir of life’ — folklore, not biology. The 1993 film ‘Groundhog Day,’ starring Bill Murray — filmed largely in Woodstock, Illinois, not Punxsutawney — turned a regional curiosity into a worldwide reference point, and the phrase now also means reliving the same day over and over.
What happened last time, and what to expect in 2027
Phil saw his shadow on February 2, 2026, predicting six more weeks of winter. He had done the same in 2025. Over the whole record since 1887, winter predictions vastly outnumber early-spring ones: Phil has called for an early spring only about 21 times, against more than 100 winter calls, and he sees his shadow roughly 85% of the time.
For Groundhog Day 2027, the ceremony at Gobbler’s Knob begins in the dark, with music, crowds, and fireworks, and the prediction is announced in the early morning. Tens of thousands have attended in person in recent years, and millions more watch the livestream and news coverage.
Does Phil get it right? The honest answer
It depends who is counting. The Inner Circle claims Phil is always right. Independent tallies put his accuracy at roughly 39%. The U.S. National Centers for Environmental Information, which has checked his record against national weather data, puts him near 50/50 — no better than a coin flip nationally, with results varying by region.
Treat Groundhog Day as living folklore and a midwinter party, not a meteorological forecast. The official end of winter does not depend on Phil: in 2027 the vernal equinox falls on Saturday, March 20, whatever Phil says on February 2.
Is Groundhog Day a holiday? And is Phil the only groundhog?
Groundhog Day is an observance, not a federal holiday in the United States. Schools, banks, and offices stay open on Tuesday, February 2, 2027. Phil is the most famous groundhog, but not the only one.
Other towns have their own forecasters, including Wiarton Willie in Ontario, Canada, and Staten Island Chuck in New York. They do not always agree with Phil — a useful reminder not to plan a planting season around any of them.
How to mark Groundhog Day 2027
- Watch the prediction live — the Gobbler’s Knob ceremony is streamed and covered live on the morning of February 2; check the official Punxsutawney Groundhog Club channels closer to the day for the Groundhog Day 2027 stream link.
- Make it a classroom or family morning — the shadow rule is a simple way to talk about seasons, weather, and folklore with children.
- Play the film — a February 2 screening of ‘Groundhog Day’ (1993) has become a tradition in many homes.
- Visit Punxsutawney another weekend — Phil lives in a habitat adjoining the Punxsutawney Memorial Library and can be visited outside February 2, when the town is far quieter.
- Use it as a real seasonal checkpoint — whatever Phil predicts, early February is a good moment to check seed catalogues, plan a spring garden, and note that daylight is already lengthening noticeably since the solstice.
No 2027 Groundhog Day deals, events, or offers are listed here: none were verified from official sources at the time of writing (November 5, 2026).
Groundhog Day dates: 2027 and beyond
| Year | Groundhog Day date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | February 2 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | February 2 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | February 2 | Friday |
The date never moves: Groundhog Day is always February 2.
Frequently asked questions about Groundhog Day 2027
When is Groundhog Day 2027? Tuesday, February 2, 2027.
What time does Punxsutawney Phil emerge? The Gobbler’s Knob ceremony takes place in the early morning of February 2, with the prediction announced in the morning; exact Groundhog Day 2027 timings are confirmed by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club closer to the day.
What does it mean if Phil sees his shadow? Folklore says six more weeks of winter; no shadow means spring will arrive early.
How accurate is Punxsutawney Phil? Independent counts put him at roughly 39% accurate; the National Centers for Environmental Information puts him near 50/50 nationally; the Inner Circle claims 100%.
Did Phil see his shadow in 2026? Yes — on February 2, 2026, Phil saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter.
Is Groundhog Day a federal holiday? No — it is a popular observance, not a federal holiday.
Where can I watch Groundhog Day 2027? The ceremony at Gobbler’s Knob, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is livestreamed and widely covered on television and online on the morning of February 2.
More days and events to explore
If you enjoy marking the calendar through the year, explore National Freedom Day 2027, National Puzzle Day 2027, and National Popcorn Day 2027. For the winter holiday season, see Hanukkah 2026 and our guide to the Best Christmas Movies.
For further reading on Groundhog Day 2027, see the Farmers’ Almanac, National Today, and Time and Date.