By Tricia Carzoli news@thewoodstockindependent.com With the dust of Groundhog Days having settled, the memories are fresh. One highlight of the festival was Woodstock Mayor Mike Turner handing over the key to the city to actor Stephen Tobolowsky. On numerous occasions, the actor has returned to the city where “Groundhog Day” was filmed, and the support […]
Brenda Hoffman, a 1983 graduate of Woodstock High School, remembers the filming of “Groundhog Day” around town in 1992. “I liked to see what was changed,” she said. “Our town was transformed for the movie, but in the movie you can still recognize the businesses that used to be there.” That movie, starring Bill Murray […]
In 1983, a teacher invited artist Tom Trausch to speak to art classes at a school in Crystal Lake. Forty years later, Groundhog Days Committee Chairman Rick Bellairs asked Trausch and that teacher, now Gail Trausch, to collaborate on the 2024 festival poster. “I told Tom that this would be our first collaboration,” Gail said. […]
With Groundhog Day falling on a Friday this year, the Groundhog Days Committee is gearing up for a busy weekend of Groundhog festivities from Feb. 1 through the 4th. “I am once again excited for the upcoming events,” Groundhog Days Committee Chairman Rick Bellairs said. “Every year it is exciting for me to look out […]
Groundhog Day and its movie-inspired festival provide ample opportunity for economic growth in Woodstock, local officials and businesses agree. “This being the 30th anniversary of the film helped,” Real Woodstock marketing manager Melissa McMahon said of this year’s five-day festival. “We noticed an uptick in interaction with social media and websites for both Real Woodstock […]
How can a community festival based on a movie that was released 30 years ago remain so popular that it attracts thousands of people every year? Of course, we’re not talking about just any community – or just any film. “Groundhog Day” has become something of a global cult classic since being filmed in Woodstock […]
“I just wish Harold was still with us, to realize the impact he’s made on Woodstock,” said Bob Hudgins, locations manager for the movie “Groundhog Day,” filmed mostly in Woodstock in 1992. As he looked out at the crowd that had gathered Thursday on the Square for Woodstock’s Groundhog Days ceremonies, Hudgins reminisced about film […]
While much of the rest of the world might have seemed oblivious to the meaning of Feb. 2 and the 1993 movie that gave the national observance special meaning for Woodstock, local residents and knowledgeable visitors to the community relished what proved to be a Hollywood-esque year this Groundhog Day. Among the highlights, Danny Rubin, […]
Groundhog Days is here! With too many activities and events to cram into one day, the five-day celebration provides plenty of opportunities for the community to engage in as many activities as desired throughout the festival. Wednesday night the Welcoming of the Groundhog will be moved indoors because of cold weather. Woodstock Willie now will […]
“OK, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties ’cause it’s cooooold out there today!” At 7 a.m. Thursday, an air temperature in single digits is expected to greet the crowd at the Park on the Square for Woodstock’s annual Groundhog Day Prognostication. But this is Woodstock. And it’s Groundhog Day. And it’s what […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
