HR0097 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0097 LRB100 09926 MST 20613 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to acknowledge the 25th anniversary of the filming of the movie "Groundhog Day"; and

WHEREAS, "Groundhog Day" was filmed in 1992, primarily in and around the Woodstock Square in Woodstock; and

WHEREAS, "Groundhog Day" was directed by Harold Ramis and starred actors Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott; it was written by Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin; and

WHEREAS, "Groundhog Day" was released in 1993 by Columbia Pictures; during its initial release, it grossed $70.9 million in North America, ranking it the 13th highest-grossing film of that year; and

WHEREAS, "Groundhog Day" was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for a film in 1993; and

WHEREAS, "Groundhog Days", as it has come to be known, has grown in scope and popularity; today the City of Woodstock and a volunteer committee hosts a four-day celebration which attracts hundreds of visitors from all across America and overseas; and

WHEREAS, This year's commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the filming of the movie will include activities beginning on the evening of February 1, 2017 and extending through the afternoon of February 5, 2017; it will include Groundhog Day trivia, a Woodstock Willie beer tasting party, bingo, a dinner dance, storytelling for children, bowling and bags tournaments, a chili cook-off, a pub crawl for adults, a variety of musical performances, and free showings of the movie "Groundhog Day" throughout the weekend at a theater just steps from where actor Bill Murray stood on the curb at the beginning of each day in the movie; and

WHEREAS, Walking tours of the filming sites in and around Woodstock Square will be led by "Groundhog Day" location manager Bob Hudgins, who returns to the City of Woodstock every February to provide tours and share behind-the-scenes stories; and

WHEREAS, The highlight of the festivities is the prognostication, which will begin on February 2, 2017 with early-morning music at 6:45 AM at the park in the Woodstock Square and feature an appearance by Woodstock Willie at 7:00 AM when he will look for his shadow and predict the end of winter; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the City of Woodstock and thank the volunteers who help celebrate "Groundhog Day" every February; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Woodstock Mayor Dr. Brian Sager as recognition of Woodstock's celebration of the timeless classic, "Groundhog Day".