Will Ontario get an early spring or six more weeks of winter? We’ll know on Sunday, Feb. 2 when Wiarton Willie makes his prediction! Yes, it’s that time of year again when we depend on a groundhog to tell us the fate of the season, and with that, there’s a festival to celebrate the occasion.
The Wiarton Willie Festival draws people in from all over Ontario and the 2025 rendition is set to be a fun one.
The festival
Happening in the community of Wiarton located in South Bruce Peninsula, the festival kicks off on Jan. 31 and runs until Feb. 2.
Between the 31st and the 2nd, there will be a little something for everyone. A winter warm-up party, public skating, curling, a vendors market, and a hockey tournament are all on deck.
Don’t forget to check out the pancake breakfast on Feb. 1, too. For $12 per adult or $10 per child, indulge in stacks of pancakes with a side of sausage.
At 370 William Street, a fireworks show will happen bright and early at 7 a.m. on the 2nd. From there, Willie’s official prediction will follow at 8:07 a.m. If you can’t make it in person, the prediction will also be streamed live.
The festivities that follow can either be in celebration of that early spring or a way to cheer yourself up if it’s six more weeks of winter.
Festival-goers can enjoy a handful of things to do from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Bluewater Park including:
- A trackless train
- Inflatable mazes
- A video gaming trailer
- Horse-drawn wagon rides
- An axe-throwing trailer
- A photo booth
The history of the Wiarton Willie Festival
According to the community of Wiarton, the tradition has been around for over 65 years.
“It all began with Mac McKenzie, a spirited individual with a desire to shake off the winter blues and bring some warmth to the community,” shares the community of Wiarton’s website.
The story goes that McKenzie decided to host a get-together of one hundred friends on Groundhog Day in Wiarton, with the media eventually catching wind of the big event.
A reporter decided to chase the story and find out more about the gathering, eventually leading them to find McKenzie and his friends hanging out (and enjoying some adult beverages).
“In a moment of whimsy and spontaneity, when asked about the whereabouts of the groundhog, Mac playfully tossed a fur hat into the snow. Seizing the opportunity for a memorable photo, the reporter immortalized the hat as a stand-in for the elusive groundhog. And with that playful gesture, Wiarton’s Groundhog Day tradition was born,” shares the community’s website.
And thus, the annual celebration was born in Wiarton.
Here’s hoping you make the right call, Wiarton Willie!
Wiarton Willie Festival
When: Friday, Jan. 31 to Sunday, Feb. 2
Where: Wiarton, Ontario
Cost: Free
