Punxsutawney, PA — For the second year in a row, RMU Sentry Media was on scene for Groundhog Day where Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most famous groundhog, saw his shadow and said the country was in store for six more weeks of winter.

This was the fourth time in five years Phil predicted winter to continue, but the cold and icy conditions that preceded the event today didn’t deter the massive crowds from gathering.

In consecutive years, The Inner Circle, the group that protects and speaks for Phil, announced record-breaking numbers of attendees and saw people from all over the country travel for this yearly celebration.

South Dakota native Ethan traveled 16 hours to Punxsutawney, something he doesn’t regret at all. “It’s 100 percent [worth it]. I sprung it up last year, I said let’s go on a Phil-grimage, and it just happened to fall on a Sunday which worked with our schedule.”

For anyone else considering making their way to Punxy for the event, Ethan had this to say: “You gotta do it at least once.”

Due to the ever-growing numbers every year, the park added two large television screens to the right and left of the stage where the festivities took place. This not only allowed the over 35,000 attendees to be able to better see Phil and the shows beforehand, but it also allowed the event staff to display more music videos and packages to give the men and women on stage a break.

Other than the addition of videos, the storied event continued as usual. Governor Josh Shapiro made his annual appearance to excite the crowd and responded to the requests of some who protested the tradition and its use of the groundhog.

“I don’t know if you heard about this, but there are some folks who are coming for Phil,” Shapiro said, adding “Hear me on this Punxsutawney, if anybody comes for Phil, they’re going to have to come through me and all of you!”

Shapiro also hinted at making Groundhog Day an official state holiday, asking the crowd if they would like that idea, one that was met with many cheers and applause.

The songs and dances continued until around 7:20 when the Inner Circle made their way down to the stump the famous groundhog stays in, and with three knocks on his door, Phil arose to the excitement of many.

During the reading of the scroll, in which Phil declares his prediction officially, the crowd stood silent for the first time in the four hours since they gathered, and it was said that Phil did in fact see his shadow, hence meaning six more weeks of the frigid temperatures and icy snow were in store.

Afterward, the large crowds were shuttled back to downtown Punxsutawney or to one of the different parking locations, leaving Gobbler’s Knob dormant for another year, until thousands from across the country gather again for this great tradition.