Balzac Billy, the famous weather predicting groundhog, saw his shadow Friday morning, and called for six more weeks of winter.
The celebrity groundhog drew a large crowd who came to the Blue Grass Garden Centre, north of Calgary, to watch Billy rise from his long slumber.
Shortly after 8 a.m. Billy made his long anticipated appearance, but saw his shadow and sent the gathered mass of people home disappointed. Billy then stuck around and took pictures with kids and did a few morning media hits before dancing the rest of the morning away to live music performed by local band Jeske.
Blue Grass Garden Centre has hosted the Balzac Billy Groundhog Day forecast for 14 years, with Friday’s event marking the 21st time Balzac Billy has made a weather prediction. Before 2011, the event was held at the Balzac Community Hall.
Last year, Billy predicted an early spring, while in 2022 the groundhog saw his shadow and called for a longer winter.
However accurate Balzac Billy’s predictions may or may not be, the event is always a popular one for those coming out to see the oversized and comical rodent mascot.
