When is Groundhog Day?

Upcoming dates

• 2027Tue, February 2
• 2028Wed, February 2
• 2029Fri, February 2
• 2030Sat, February 2

When is Groundhog Day?

Groundhog Day always falls on February 2, a fixed calendar date, so the weekday changes from year to year. It sits roughly midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

It is not a public holiday, so offices, schools, and businesses stay open as normal. It is a folk custom and popular tradition rather than an official day off.

The origin of the tradition

The custom has roots in older European traditions tied to Candlemas, when the weather on that day was thought to hint at the length of winter still to come. German settlers brought a version of this belief to Pennsylvania, where the groundhog took on the predicting role.

According to the folklore, if the groundhog sees its shadow it retreats and winter continues for six more weeks, while a cloudy day with no shadow signals an early spring. The most famous groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

How Groundhog Day is observed

The best-known event takes place at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where a crowd gathers early in the morning to watch Punxsutawney Phil emerge and make his forecast. The tradition there dates back to the 1880s.

The day gained even wider fame through the 1993 film Groundhog Day, in which a character relives February 2 over and over. Other towns have their own groundhogs and celebrations, though none rival Punxsutawney's crowds.

Frequently asked questions

When is Groundhog Day?

Groundhog Day is on February 2, 2027.

What day of the week is Groundhog Day?

This year, Groundhog Day falls on a Tuesday.

How many days until Groundhog Day?

149 days.