South Bruce Peninsula is home to Canada's most famous weather prognosticating groundhog Wiarton Willie!
Each year on Feb 2nd people from around the world eagerly await to see if Wiarton Willie will see his shadow indicating 6 more weeks of winter, or not see his shadow, predicting an early spring.
2021 Wiarton Willie Platinum Sponsor
Prediction morning February 2nd |
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Predication morning is a free family friendly event! Start your morning with breakfast at 6:30 am at the Wiarton Arena then "Wake up Willie" at the spectacular fireworks display at 7am in Bluewater Park. Music and entertainment begin at 7:10 am at the main stage located in the parking lot of the Wiarton Area. At 8:07 am Willie will make his official prediction, all event listing can be found in the festival program. |
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Festival events |
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If you are hosting an event during the Wiarton Willie Festival Weekend and you would like to be included on our website or in the program please fill out the application and return it to Town Hall. | ||||||
Festival sponsors |
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History and past predictions |
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Where does Willie live? |
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You can visit Wiarton Willie from May until September in his home in Bluewater Park. |
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Willie's Statue |
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Willie became so famous that in 1995 a statue made from stone donated by Adair Quarry and sculpting donated by Dave Robinson. A beautiful white limestone statue called "Willie Emerging" was unveiled in Bluewater Park on February 3, 1996 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Wiarton Willie prognostications.. The statue located in Bluewater Park in Wiarton is a perfect opportunity for a photo op. The statue is a 'must see' for most tourists visiting the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. The Wiarton Willie statue started out as a single piece of dolomite limestone weighing approximately 7 tonnes. The stone donated Arriscraft Corporation/Adair Quarry in Hope Bay, 20 kms north of Wiarton. Arriscraft Corporation has provided stone for buildings such as Canada's Embassy in Washington, the locks of the Rideau Canal and the Peacekeeper Monument in Ottawa. Dave Robinson, an artist from the area, apprenticed in marble carving in Carrera Italy and has several works on display in Toronto and Ottawa. Robinson donated his time and talent to sculpt the image of the weather-forecasting groundhog. Robinson began the work in the summer of 1995. The statue is statue life-like and natural looking with some minimal stylization. Robinson left the statue roughly carved so the crystals in the stone help to keep the look close to that of the albino groundhog. The completed statue weighs approximately 4.5 tonnes.
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