Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on February 2nd in both the United States and Canada. The folklore states that on February 2nd if a groundhog emerges from his hole and fails to see his shadow, he will leave his burrow – signifying that winter will end soon. But if the groundhog does see his shadow he will retreat down into his burrow, and winter will last for another 6 weeks!
Whether or not the groundhog has any insight about the weather is debatable — he’s only been right 39% of the time since 1887, so his track record isn’t great — but it’s still a fun tradition for families to enjoy together.
If you’re looking for some fun ways to get out of the house this winter, be sure to visit our Events Calendar or sign up for our Weekend Fun Guide.
dsm4kids rounded up some fun and unique ways that you can celebrate Groundhog Day with your kids, including fun crafts, recipes and activities.
Groundhog Day Craft Ideas
While the accuracy of his prediction is a bit of a toss-up, kids will still get a kick out of some groundhog-inspired crafts. We’ve saved all of these fun ideas on our Winter Crafts & Activities 4 Kids Pinterest board.
- Ground Hog Puppet Craft for Kids from Typically Simple
- Ground Hog Shadow Craft via Kids Soup
- Sunshine Shadows Tracing Activity for Kids by Premeditated Leftovers
Groundhog Day Recipe Ideas
Groundhog Day isn’t the kind of holiday that calls for extravagant meals or family get-togethers, but it is the perfect excuse to have a little fun with food. You can also celebrate the day with some warm comfort food since, we may be in for more winter (boo!).
- Groundhog’s Day Pudding Treat from My Recipe Magic
- Pop-Up Groundhog Cookies via She Knows
- Groundhog’s Day Muffins by Inner Child Fun
Groundhog Day Activity Ideas
Below we’ve put together a short list of Groundhog Day activities you can do at home, as well as a few events being hosted by local Des Moines area organizations and businesses.
- Go on a Groundhog Hike hosted by Polk County Conservation – Naturalists will help you uncover all the truths about groundhogs during this fun and hands on hike through Brown’s Woods in West Des Moines.
- Watch Groundhog Day at Flix Brewhouse – Watching this PG movie is an annual tradition for many. See it in all its comedic glory, over and over again, on February 2nd at 7:30 pm.
- Pick Up a Groundhog Day Headband Kit at DMPL’s Central Library – Kits will be available on February 2nd while supplies last and you will be able to pick them up at the pick-up window or the youth area.
- Read a Groundhog Day Book – “Groundhog Weather School” by Joan Holub is from our own home library, which has been read on repeat over the years. We love that the main character of the book is a skunk posing as a groundhog.
- Try a weather experiment —kids can learn about weather with these fun experiments from Weather Wiz Kids. Their Cloud In A Bottle experiment is a perfect fit when talking shadows.
And of course, don’t forget to tune into your favorite news source on February 2, 2022, to find out whether or not Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow! Happy Groundhog Day!
