Groundhog's Day 2026: Your complete guide

The greater Milwaukee area offers three confirmed Groundhog's Day prediction ceremonies on February 2, 2026, plus dozens of winter events in the surrounding days perfect for families celebrating the occasion.

Milwaukee County Zoo's annual prediction (featuring penguins or goats rather than a groundhog), Bristol Bob's ceremony at Pringle Nature Center in Kenosha County, and a DNR-guided hike at Lakeshore State Park anchor the region's celebrations. While dedicated groundhog events are limited compared to famous destinations like Punxsutawney, the six-county metro area compensates with excellent nature center programming, museum discounts, and winter family activities clustered around the date.

Milwaukee County

Milwaukee County Zoo Prediction Ceremony

The zoo's signature annual event has evolved since beloved groundhog Gordy passed away in 2023. Recent years have featured Humboldt penguins and Nigerian dwarf goats making the prognostication instead.

• Date: Monday, February 2, 2026

• Time: 9:00 AM (before zoo opens)

• Location: 10001 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226

• Cost: FREE to watch via social media; prediction announced on Facebook, Instagram, and X after 9:15 AM

• Age appropriateness: All ages

• Registration: None required

• Contact: (414) 771-3040 | milwaukeezoo.org

Special bonus: The zoo hosts Family Free Day on Saturday, February 7, 2026, sponsored by North Shore Bank—free admission with parking fees still applicable. This makes an excellent follow-up visit for families wanting to see animals active in cooler winter weather.

Lakeshore State Park DNR Groundhog Day Hike

The Wisconsin DNR hosts this low-key guided walk annually at Milwaukee's urban state park, where participants may spot the park's resident groundhog.

• Date: Monday, February 2, 2026

• Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (based on past years)

• Location: Lakeshore State Park, meet at north entrance near Discovery World parking garage

• Cost: FREE

• Age appropriateness: All ages and abilities; 0.7-mile flat, paved terrain suitable for strollers and mobility aids

• Registration: Not required

• Contact: elaine.zautke@wisconsin.gov | (414) 274-4281

Urban Ecology Center Winterfest

The day before Groundhog's Day, this free celebration offers the perfect kickoff to the holiday weekend.

• Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026

• Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

• Location: Washington Park Branch, 1859 N. 40th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53208

• Cost: FREE

• Age appropriateness: All ages, especially children 11 and under

• Activities: Winter hikes, sledding, carriage rides, campfire with hot drinks

• Contact: (414) 344-5460 | urbanecologycenter.org

Mitchell Park Domes All-Scale Train Show

Visit the tropical dome for an "early spring" experience any time of year—a fitting Groundhog's Day escape from winter.

• Dates: January 31 – February 1, 2026

• Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

• Location: 524 S. Layton Boulevard, Milwaukee, WI 53215

• Cost: $10 adults, $5 children ages 3-12, free under 3

• Features: Model trains wind through beds of pansies and azaleas; special exhibits of collectible trains of all sizes

• Contact: (414) 257-5611 | mitchellparkdomes.com

Museum Days Milwaukee

Twenty-six museums participate in this annual discount event ending the day before Groundhog's Day.

• Dates: January 22 – February 1, 2026

• Participating venues include:

  • Milwaukee Public Museum (25% off general admission)

  • Betty Brinn Children's Museum

  • Discovery World

  • Milwaukee Art Museum

  • Charles Allis Art Museum

• Website: visitmilwaukee.org/museum-days

Havenwoods State Forest

Wisconsin's only urban state forest offers free winter programming close to Groundhog's Day.

• Animal Feeding Program: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 1:30–2:30 PM (FREE)

• Candlelight Hike: Saturday, February 14, 2026, 4:00–7:00 PM (FREE, includes s'mores and hot cocoa)

• Location: 6141 N. Hopkins Street, Milwaukee, WI 53209

• Contact: (414) 527-0232 | dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/havenwoods

Kenosha County

Bristol Bob Groundhog Day Celebration at Pringle Nature Center

This is the only dedicated groundhog prediction ceremony in the greater Milwaukee area featuring an actual groundhog mascot—albeit a taxidermied one. Naturalist Liz Alvey describes Bristol Bob as "very clairvoyant, even after life."

• Date: Monday, February 2, 2026

• Time: 9:30 AM CST

• Location: Pringle Nature Center, 9800 160th Avenue, Bristol, WI 53104 (Bristol Woods County Park)

• Cost: FREE

• Age appropriateness: All ages; excellent for young children

• Registration: Not required—drop in welcome

• Contact: pringlenc.org | (262) 857-8008

Activities include:

• Groundhog-themed children's book reading

• Paper bag groundhog craft activities

• Indoor scavenger hunt

• Bristol Bob's official weather prediction

• Opportunity to interact with Bristol Bob

Bristol Bob's prediction history: Early spring in 2025, 2024, 2022, and 2021; long winter in 2023. The nature center building is open Tuesday–Saturday 9 AM–4 PM and Sunday noon–4 PM. Bristol Woods County Park features 4.28 miles of hiking trails through upland forest, oak savanna, and prairie.

Kenosha Public Museum

Free general admission year-round, with winter programming including an Ocean Movie Double Feature on Friday, January 30, 2026.

• Address: 5500 First Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53140

• Website: museums.kenosha.org

Snow Daze Festival

Kenosha's annual winter celebration transforms downtown into an ice sculpture wonderland.

• Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026

• Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (sculptures remain as weather allows)

• Location: Veterans Memorial Park, 5220 Sixth Avenue, Kenosha

• Cost: FREE

• Features: Live ice sculpting by Art Below Zero, s'mores by fire pits, DJ music, business discounts

• Website: VisitKenosha.com/SnowDaze

Racine County

Racine Zoo Winter Picnic in a Snow Globe

While no specific Groundhog's Day program exists, the zoo offers unique heated dome experiences through early February.

• Dates: Select Saturdays and Sundays through February 2026

• Duration: 90-minute time slots

• Location: 2131 North Main Street, Racine, WI 53402

• Capacity: Up to 8 people per dome

• Includes: Food, drinks, and animal encounter

• Contact: (262) 636-9189 | racinezoo.org

Brrr Garden

Craft beers, food by the fire, and Lake Michigan views at the zoo.

• Date: February 1, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

• Includes: Zoo souvenir glass and admission

• Contact: racinezoo.org/events-calendar

Waukesha County

Retzer Nature Center Wild Winter Night

This annual February event features candlelight hikes, planetarium shows, and family activities—check website for confirmed 2026 date.

• Location: S14-W28167 Madison Street, Waukesha, WI 53188

• Typical activities:

  • Self-guided candlelight hikes (0.2 and 0.47 miles)

  • Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium shows

  • FREE snowshoe rentals (conditions dependent)

  • Campfire with warm beverages

  • "Owls of Wisconsin" learning session with owl hike (ages 10+)

• Cost: Approximately $5/person (FREE for ages 2 and under, Friends members)

• Registration: Required in advance

• Contact: (262) 896-8007 | waukeshacounty.gov/retzernaturecenter

Year-round: No daily entrance fee for trails; planetarium and learning center programs available.

Waukesha JanBoree 2026

The city's winter celebration runs January 16–25, ending one week before Groundhog's Day but featuring winter nature programming.

• Events: Winter Wildlife Exploration at Retzer, Penguin Egg Hunt, Candlelight Hike, Ice Sculpting Competition

• Cost: Most events FREE

• Website: janboree.org

Washington County

Riveredge Nature Center

This 485-acre center in Saukville offers winter trails but no confirmed Groundhog's Day event.

• Location: 4458 County Highway Y, Saukville, WI 53080

• Winter activities: 10+ miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing

• Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM; Saturday 9 AM–5 PM; trails open year-round

• Contact: (262) 375-2715 | riveredgenaturecenter.org

Additional nature centers

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

• Location: 1111 E. Brown Deer Road, Milwaukee (Bayside), WI 53217

• Features: 185 acres, 6 miles of trails, 60-foot observation tower

• Winter activities: Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, guided hikes, raptor programs

• Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM daily

• Contact: (414) 352-2880 | schlitzaudubon.org

Wehr Nature Center

• Location: 9701 W. College Avenue, Franklin, WI 53132

• Features: 220 acres, 6.5 miles of trails, live animal exhibits

• Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM daily (closed Wednesdays)

• Upcoming: 45th Annual Maple Sugar Days, March 8–9, 2026

• Contact: (414) 425-8550 | wehrnaturecenter.com

Planning recommendations

For the most complete Groundhog's Day experience in the greater Milwaukee area, families should consider a three-part itinerary: watch the Milwaukee County Zoo prediction via social media at 9:00 AM, then drive to Bristol for Bristol Bob's ceremony at 9:30 AM (about 35 minutes south of Milwaukee), and finish with the DNR's guided hike at Lakeshore State Park at 1:00 PM. The weekend before offers additional opportunities through Museum Days discounts, the Urban Ecology Center Winterfest, and the Mitchell Park Domes train show.

Important note: Many venues publish detailed February programming in late January. Check websites closer to February 2, 2026, for additional groundhog-themed storytimes at libraries and last-minute nature center programs. No specific Groundhog's Day restaurant promotions were identified in the research, though downtown Milwaukee businesses near Lakeshore State Park offer convenient dining options.

For those willing to travel slightly farther, Jimmy the Groundhog in Sun Prairie (about 80 miles west) remains Wisconsin's most famous prognosticator, with a 78-year tradition and sunrise ceremony at 7:11 AM as part of the Frozen Fest celebration.