‘Groundhog Day’ Was Actually Filmed In Illinois & They Celebrate it Hard

Bill Murray
Everett Collection

Every year on February 2nd, the small town of Woodstock, Illinois, gets a little more punxsy-tious—and no, that’s not just a groundhog pun (though, who doesn’t love a good one?). Despite being set in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a large majority of the movie was filmed in Woodstock. This charming town doesn’t just honor the shadow-detecting rodent from the famed 1993 Groundhog Day movie, it celebrates it in full Bill Murray fashion, with people flocking in droves to relive the magic of a movie that’s about much more than weather predictions. After all, when you’re stuck in a time loop like Phil Connors, you start to appreciate the small stuff — like a hot cup of coffee, an enthusiastic crowd, and the kind of quirky small-town traditions that can only exist where the groundhog’s shadow reigns supreme.

Woodstock’s Groundhog Day celebration has become a beloved tradition, and this year even featured special guest Stephen Tobolowsky, a.k.a. Ned Ryerson!

GROUNDHOG DAY, Stephen Tobolowsky, Bill Murray, 1993. (c)

Columbia Pictures/ courtesy Everett Collection

During my visit to Woodstock, I felt like I’d stepped straight into Groundhog Day — obviously without the time loop and manic Phil Conners’ running around. The highlights for me were the iconic gazebo where Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell dance together — though I’ll admit: my dance moves didn’t quite match theirs. Then, just a few hundred feet away sits the spot where Murray’s character repeatedly steps into the same puddle despite Ned Ryerson’s “doozie” warning. A classic moment of frustration and repetition, which, thankfully, has been patched up and replaced with a plaque commemorating the moment.

Finally, having an ice cold brew at the bowling alley Wayne’s Lanes, where Murray’s character has a few too many with some new pals: It was easy to imagine him there, repeating the same day, failing to earn Rita’s affection, and trying to figure out how to break the cycle. The whole town still carries that quirky, timeless vibe that makes Groundhog Day so unforgettable!

GROUNDHOG DAY, Bill Murray, 1993, (c)
GROUNDHOG DAY, from left: Bill Murray, Stephen Tobolowsky, 1993.
February 2021
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February 2021

1990s Rom-Coms

Pop some popcorn and cozy up to feel-good movies and TV shows from a generation ago.

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