Chilly Charlie Returns for Virtual Groundhog Day Prognostication

Tuesday, 1 February 2022 07:29

South Gate Centre will be live streaming Chilly Charlie's Groundhog Day Prognostication at 8:10 a.m. tomorrow. Local Roots Catering will also be serving up pancakes and sausages from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. via drive thru.

WOODSTOCK - Chilly Charlie is about to emerge from his burrow once again.

Groundhog Day is coming up Wednesday February 2nd and South Gate will be hosting it's annual prediction breakfast.

The virtual prognostication will be live streamed on South Gate's Facebook page at 8:10 a.m. Heart FM's Cody Hayward will be on site along with South Gate Executive Director Chris Cunningham. South Gate is not encouraging any in-person spectators this year due to the high transmission rate of COVID-19.

Sarah Sheehan, the Marketing and Communications Manager for South Gate Centre, explains how the Groundhog Day prediction works.

"If he sees his shadow he gets spooked and wants to go back into his hole. He will remain there for six more weeks and that means we'll have six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow that morning because it's overcast, he predicts an early spring."

Chilly Charlie predicted a longer winter last year after he saw his shadow.

Local Roots Catering will also be serving up pancakes and sausages between 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. this year. It's going to be a drive-thru event once again because they're not offering indoor dining at this time.

Sheehan says the drive-thru format was a big hit last year.

"Last year we heard great stories of families stopping by on their way to school to get their kids breakfast. Others come out every year and others hear it on Heart FM and turn their cars in the direction of South Gate Centre to check it out and get breakfast."

The meals cost $5 each and you can pay with cash, credit or debit. The meals will only be available on a first come first serve basis and South Gate is expecting about 200 people.

They completely sold out of breakfast last year. Sheehan says they served 342 pancakes, 246 sausages and 267 pieces of bacon that morning.