SeeCalifornia.com

If you happen to be visiting Plumas County this weekend, drop by downtown Quincy where Groundhog Fever Day is celebrated near the Courthouse steps on Feb.3, 2018. The event includes food, beer & beverages, music, and contests.

Another beloved event in California’s Surprise Valley is the Cedarville Squirrel Roundup on March 17, 2018. If you’re a squirrel you’ll want to stay away from this ‘neck of the woods’ in Modoc County, however. This is a hunting event limited to 100 participants who aim to shoot the pesky critters. The banquet afterwards isn’t known to serve squirrel, but typically offers traditional BBQ — surprise!

Groundhog Day is February 2

• Always on Feb. 2, the biggest, national celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where up to 40,000 visitors show up.
• Punxsutawney Phil has been the official groundhog weather forecaster since 1887.
• Pennsylvania’s ceremony takes place in the town’s Gobbler’s Knob.
• If the day is sunny and Phil sees his shadow, according to legend the scared groundhog returns to his burrow and the U.S. will endure six more weeks of winter.
• If it’s cloudy when Phil emerges on Feb. 2, springtime weather is soon on its way.
• Punxsutawney Phil is cared for by Pennsylvania Groundhog Club, which keeps statistics on predictions.
• Phil the Groundhog has 39% accuracy in predicting the future.
• Phil has predicted 17 forecasts for an early spring and 103 for a long winter.
• Local groundhogs come out of their burrows usually in March, regardless of Groundhog Day predictions.
• Though hunger may be gnawing at them, groundhogs usually choose sex first, looking for a mate as they emerge in the spring.