D.C. Nonprofit Sought Real Groundhog For Celebration

We all heard what Punxatawney Phil had to say about the length of winter this year, but what did Potomac Phil have to say?

If you're wondering who Potomac Phil is, don't be alarmed, he's relatively new.  He's also not alive, but that's beside the point.  WTOP reported yesterday that Dupont Festival, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit, was seeking a live groundhog for its first annual Groundhog Day celebration in Dupont Circle Park.

The nonprofit had already spoken with the D.C. National Zoo, but they only offered prairie dogs, which didn't quite fit the bill.  The WTOP article directed readers to the organization's website, where anyone with information on how to get a live groundhog could contact them.

Dupont Festival eventually had to settle for a stuffed groundhog donated from Miss Pixie's Furnishings & Whatnot, a local D.C. store.  Thus was born Potomac Phil, who made his prediction for winter known to the public at 8 a.m. this morning.  And just like Punxatawney Phil, he predicted six more weeks of winter.  D.C. councilman Jack Evans attended the celebration, and declared that from now on, February 2 will be D.C. Groundhog Day.  So even if they didn't get a real groundhog, Dupont Festival at least got themselves a new holiday.

You can read the full story on the WTOP website.