Woodstock Groundhog Days

About the Event

In 1992, something astonishing happened in the historic city of Woodstock, Illinois. People came to town and roped off the picturesque city square, moved all sorts of equipment into the park and started playing the Pennsylvania Polka, over and over and over again

They were filming a movie that has become a favorite of young and old for almost 30 years, and the city gathers each year to remember the fun and celebrate the special community that Woodstock has always been. We've had visitors from as far away as Australia, celebrities from the Groundhog Day movie and local media and everyone agrees that this festival is a great way to shake off the gloom of Winter, if just for a few days.

Schedule of Events:

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Movie Memorabilia Open House

Visit the Woodstock Public Library to see photos taken during the shooting of the movie and other artifacts. During the Memorabilia Open House special items from the library's Groundhog Day Archive are out on display so that fans can enjoy seeing the scripts, location files, and scrapbooks close-up. Committee members will be on hand to answer questions.

5:00 pm: Groundhog Day Dinner Dance

Come for a night of fun at the Woodstock Moose.  The bachelor auction and dance scenes in the movie ‘Groundhog Day' were filmed here.  It is a convenient location across from the Metra train station and 2 blocks north of the Woodstock Square. Tickets for the entire evening are $30 per person.

Click here to Buy Tickets

7:00 pm: "Groundhog Day" the Movie

View the movie in the theater featured in the movie! Classic Cinemas is providing many opportunities to do just that during Groundhog Days weekend.

7:30 pm: Groundhog Day the Musical

Theatre 121, the Woodstock Opera House resident production company is proud to present ‘Groundhog Day the Musical' in the Woodstock Opera House.

7 Tony Award nominations and winner of the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical this production is based on the iconic film. Newsday called it "an ingenious, witty, joyously offbeat musical." NY1 said "Danny Rubin's wryly humorous book and Tim Minchin's clever songs, the forecast for this Groundhog Day looks pretty bright!" Groundhog Day was a New York Times Critics Pick and the Washington Post said "The surprises are consistently amazing!"

Phil Connors - a disgruntled big city weatherman is mysteriously stuck in small-town America reliving the same day over and over and over again - with no consequences, no regrets, no tomorrows, and nohangovers. But once he starts getting to know TV producer Rita Hanson, he discovers it's a day of second, third and fourth chances.

7:30 pm: Willie's Cocktail Party

Join the Friends of the Opera House and Woodstock Willie for a special fundraiser at Stage Left Cafe as part of the official Ground Hog Day celebration. Cocktails with Willie will raise money to support the Opera House and its performers and patrons.  Come and enjoy specialty cocktails, buy an arm-length of tickets for the 50/50 raffle and get a picture with Willie, while supporting one of Woodstock's most beloved landmarks.

Tickets are $40 per person.

Each guest will receive samples of four specialty drinks and two tokens for complementary drinks. A cash bar will be available and light refreshments will be served.

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