Groundhog Day is less than a week away and Wiarton is ready to welcome the masses to town to hear his prognostication of a late or early spring.
On February 2nd, a new Willie will take up the tradition after his 13 year old predecessor passed away last September.
Festival goers can expect a revitalized event this year with a new crew organizing over 40 free activities, including a hockey shootout, euchre tournament, snowman building, glass blowing,
Mayor Janice Jackson calls the much younger Willie “rambunctious” and a lot of fun.
The events began last Friday with the crowning of the Festival’s Queen, and continue on Thursday (Feb 1) with a Pajama Party at the Wiarton Meeting Place.
New to the festival this year is the Snow Snake, a roughly 500 year old competitive First Nation winter sport which involves throwing a spear down a track of ice.
Among other planned events are a hockey shootout, Euchre tournament, the Groundhog 5k jog, a dart tournament, snowman building and curling games.
Jackson says over the weekend there will be free horse-drawn sleigh rides, glass blowing is planned, there’s a chili lunch and fish dinner, as well as karaoke.
Prediction morning will include a free pancake breakfast, fireworks, and of course music and the prediction ceremony itself.
Visit www.wiartonwillie.com for more information
Here is schedule, weather permitting:
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018
11:30 am
Wiarton Propeller Club Bid Euchre Tournament
at the Wiarton Meeting Place
5:00 pm
Rest Up to Wake Up Willie PJ Party
Wiarton Meeting Place
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018
PREDICTION MORNING
7:00 am
Wake up Willie Fireworks Display, Free Pancake Breakfast
Wiarton arena & Bluewater Park
7:15 am
Prediction Ceremony
Wiarton Arena
8:07 am
Willies Official Prediction
Wiarton Arena
8:30 am
Free Family Skating
Wiarton Arena
11:00 am
Groundhog Stories with Willie
Ross Whicher Centre
12:00 pm
Puck Shoot Out
Bluewater Park
12:00 pm
Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides, Snow Snake, food vendors and exhibits
Bluewater Park
12:00 pm
Snowman Building
–
Bluewater Park
1:30 pm
Gateway Haven Senior Shadow Seekers
–
Gateway Haven
7:00 pm
Christmas Tree Burning
–
Bluewater Park
7:00 pm Wiarton Willie Lions Hockey Tournament
–
Wiarton Arena
7:00 pm
Wiarton Lions Casino
–
Wiarton Arena
9:00 pm
Prediction Night Karaoke
–
Wiarton Legion
Saturday, February 3, 2018
8:00 am
St. Johns United Church Pancake Breakfast
–
St. Johns United Church
8:00 am
Wiarton Willie Lions Hockey Tournament
–
Wiarton Arena
9:00 am
Wiarton & District Curling Club Mixed Curling
Bonspiel
–
Wiarton Curling Club
9:00 am
Wiarton Willie Coed Volleyball Tournament
–
Peninsula Shores District School
9:00 am
Dan Fries Dart Tournament
–
Wiarton Legion
9:00 am
Wiarton Willie Snooker & 8 Ball Tournament
–
Lloyds Smoke Shop
10:00 am
Wiarton Willie Craft Show
–
Peninsula Shores
District School
11:00 am
Masonic Cheap Chili Chowdown Lunch
–
Masonic Hall
12:00 pm
Puck Shoot Out
–
Bluewater Park
12:00 pm
Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides
–
Bluewater Park
12:00 pm
Knowlzies Food, Glass Blowing, Suntrail Ski
& Snowshoe, Bruce County Museum &
Cultural Centre
–
Bluewater Park
12:00 pm
Snow Art
–
Bluewater Park
12:00 pm
Snow Snake
–
Bluewater Park
12:00 pm
Snowman Building
–
Bluewater Park
1:00 pm
The Dave Hiscox Duo
–
Wiarton Legion
1:00 pm
Groundhog Stories with Willie
–
Ross Whicher
Centre
2:00 pm
Wiarton District Optimist Fancy Tea
–
Salvation Army
4:00 pm
Wiarton Propeller Club Fish Dinner
–
Wiarton
Meeting Place
9:00 pm
Groundhog Bash
–
Wiarton Meeting Place
9:00 pm
Lions Club Willie Dance
–
Wiarton Arena
Sunday, February 4, 2018
7:30 am
Groundhog Jog
–
Peninsula Shores District
School
10:00 am
Wiarton Willie Lions Hockey Tournament
Wiarton Arena
10:00 am
Road Breakers Road Hockey Tournament
Pool Parking Lot
