South Bruce Peninsula is ready for Wiarton Willie.
The annual festival will kick off Friday, February 2 in the morning, as we all look to the prognosticating groundhog to tell us how long winter will last. South Bruce Mayor Jay Kirkland says there's a lot of events on tap.
"The Friday this year is a PD day for the schools, so we're expecting a bunch of kids and families for prediction morning, which is good for us and kind of turns it into a two day festival. We have fireworks at 7 a.m. at Bluewater Park on prediction morning. There will be breakfast sandwiches for everyone that's there. It's a fundraiser for the school. So we buy all the sandwiches and they make them, so that'll be great," Kirkland shared.
Following the prediction from Willie, Kirkland says they will welcome some exciting guests to the festivities.
"Willie's prediction is 8:07 a.m. sharp, and then there's free skating from 9:30 a.m. until noon and the Owen Sound Attack are coming, to be on the ice and sign autographs, so that's all happening prediction morning," said Kirkland.
The festival will roll into Saturday, and Kirkland says there will be plenty of activities on that day, too.
"There's axe throwing, a video game trailer, a human foosball court, full court press basketball, there's a whole bunch of things going on. We have a website so people can see everything that's going on. That's www.WiartonWillie.com," Kirkland noted.
Kirkland says the community is so proud of the ongoing Wiarton Willie tradition, which is known to people all over the place.
"I go on holiday, and it's not often people ask where you're from, and I'll say 'South Bruce Peninsula,' and they'll kinda have a blank look on their face. But when you say you're from Wiarton Willie country, their smile comes on and they recognize that name and know where the area is, which is good. A lot of people come visit just because of Wiarton Willie, and that's fantastic," said Kirkland proudly.
In terms of Willie's prediction, Kirkland admits he's hoping for a certain outcome that may be unpopular to some.
"I kinda like winter, so I'm hoping he's gonna tell us we're getting six more weeks of winter, but that's just my opinion. Today, though, it seems like he's gonna tell us it's an early spring. But I'm gonna be well voiced in terms of what he's gonna say on prediction morning, so, we'll do that prediction then," Kirkland concluded.
Community members hosting Wiarton Willie Festival-related events are encouraged to feature them on the Town's Calendar of Events. This ensures their visibility on the Town's website at https://calendar.southbrucepeninsula.com/default/Month.
For further details and updates, visit www.wiartonwillie.com.