Chilly Charlie emerged from his burrow at 8:10 a.m. this morning to predict an early spring.
UPDATE: It's official... we're going to have an early spring!
Woodstock's Chilly Charlie did not see his shadow when he emerged from his burrow at South Gate Centre this morning, so it looks like spring is right around the corner. Wiarton Willie, Punxsutawney Phil, Shubenacadie Sam, Quebec's Fred la Marmotte also didn't see their shadows.
However, Lucy the Lobster predicted another six weeks of winter after she saw her shadow in Barrington, Nova Scotia.
Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione called the Heart FM studio shortly after Chilly Charlie made his prognostication. You can listen to his full conversation with Dan and Marcie below:
---
WOODSTOCK - Woodstock's favourite groundhog is about to emerge from his burrow.
Chilly Charlie is set to make his Groundhog Day prognostication at 8:10 a.m. today at South Gate Centre.
If he sees his shadow, we'll have six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow, we'll have an early spring. Chilly Charlie predicted another six weeks of winter last year and an early spring in 2022.
South Gate Centre will also be serving up a pancake breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. It costs $6 and you can dine in or hit up the drive-thru on your way to work.
The local seniors centre has been hosting Woodstock's Groundhog Day celebration for 19 years now, with the first held on February 2nd, 2005. Don Eagle, a retired school teacher and who volunteered at South Gate, was supposed to go to Wiarton to witness Wiarton Willie's prognostication, but couldn't go because of the weather. That's when he called up the Mayor of Woodstock to see if a Groundhog Day event could be held in the Friendly City, and the rest is history.

2026 Community Grant Recipients
PJHL Preview - South Conference Finals
Active Police Investigation in Ingersoll
Easter Tradition Returns to Memorial Park in Tillsonburg
Police Taking the Plunge for Special Olympics Ontario
PJHL Playoff Recap - April 1st
Missing Person Last Spotted in Woodstock
Canada-Wide Warrant Related to 2020 Murder
UPDATE: Victims Identified in Norwich Township Crash
Tavistock Hosts Special Easter Egg Hunt!
PetSmart Adoption Week Success in Oxford
Ontario Increases Minimum Wage
PJHL Playoff Recap - March 31st
Easter Fun in Drumbo!
All Systems Go for Artemis II Mission
Funding Helps Get New Roof in Ingersoll
Ingersoll has Two Easter Egg Hunts
Tip Tuesday - March 2026
Federal Offender Wanted nearby Hamilton & GTA
Comments
Add a comment