February 2 is a very important date in Pennsylvania lore. On this day each year, the whole country watches as the nation’s most trusted weatherman, Punxsutawney Phil, predicts whether we will get six more weeks of winter or if spring will grace us with its warm breezes early on. In honor of this annual event, Grey Lodge Pub is holdng their traditional Groundhog Day Hawaiian Shirt Beer Breakfast.

Starting at 7 AM, proprietor Mike “Scoats” Scotese invites fans of rodent prognostication and great brew alike to assemble at the Northeast Pub to watch the 7:20 AM broadcast of Phil emerging from hibernation. In order to promote the warm weather vibe, bead necklaces and tropical shirts are the attire of choice, and in order to promote the warming of our insides, special beers will be on tap (some of which have been squirreled away for almost a year in anticipation of this event).

There will be games and prizes throughout the morning, including an 8 AM Hawaiian shirt contest and a 9 AM hula hoop contest. Also, for the first time this year, you can score a special Groundhog Day Foursquare Badge if you follow VisitPA and then check in during the event. And the fun doesn’t end after Phil’s had his say: the beer breakfast segues into Lucky Cat Day, which sees resident feline Wissinoming Winnie make her own prediction. Everything wraps up around 1 PM, which is appropriately dubbed “nap time."

Make that a deserved sleep by sipping from offerings like Founders Breakfast Stouts, Flying Fish Exit 8, Ommegang Aphrodite, Russian River Temptation and Supplication, Sly Fox Coffee Porter, Yards Old Bart and more. Stay up to date on any further details via the Grey Lodge website, and do note that because of the popularity of the event, all sales for the day are cash-only. Watch our video of the 2011 fun, above, and then come out for a great (and early) start to the weekend.

Photo via Flickr user Steve 1828

Event Date: 02/02
Event Time: 7 AM-1 PM
Location: Grey Lodge Pub
Price: PAYG
Website: www.greylodge.com/groundcat.html