Self-Guided Groundhog Day Walking Tour in Woodstock

Have you watched the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray? Did you know that the movie was filmed in Woodstock, Illinois not Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania? Located about 50 miles northwest of Chicago, the small town of Woodstock oozes small town charm, and goes all out once February 2nd rolls around. In fact, they hold have an annual Groundhog Days festival. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the movie, and what better way to celebrate than with a self-guided Groundhog Day Walking Tour! (I’ve also included a few extra stops because if you’re bringing kids, you’ll need them.) Come along with us!

GROUNDHOG DAY WALKING TOUR in Woodstock

Getting Started

Parking is pretty easy to come by since there are plenty of free parking lots around the Square as well as free street parking. To easily find the spots where the movie took place, we downloaded the Naturally McHenry County app. I also used the JetSetters app to “check-in” and earn badges. So fun! You can also find brochures with maps at shops around downtown. There are 15 total movie “stops” on the tour and we saw all except for 3. We probably spent about a couple hours around town at a leisurely pace with stops here and there around the Square.

Tip: Look for the metal plaques to help find where certain scenes were filmed. 

EXTRA STOP:  Need to warm up? Grab coffee at Ethereal Confections (love!) or Read Between the Lynes.

WOODSTOCK OPERA HOUSE AKA PENNSYLVANIA HOTEL

121 VAN BUREN ST.

Our first stop, the beautiful Woodstock Opera House, is hard to miss! In the movie it is known as The Pennsylvania Hotel where Rita stayed.  If you go around the corner and look up to the tower, you’ll see where Phil “calls it quits.” It also serves as a historic landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Step inside to find more Groundhog Day memorabilia.

Fun fact: The Woodstock Opera House is famous for a few things including the first appearance of Orson Welles.

WOODSTOCK SQUARE PARK AKA GOBBLER’S KNOB

SW CORNER OF WOODSTOCK SQUARE PARK

In the movie, Woodstock Square Park is the official site where the festival took place and the prognostication was made of six more weeks of winter. This cute little square has a monument dedicated to those fallen, a bandstand, and benches for sitting. Perfect for grabbing coffee or lunch and sitting and enjoying nature.

EXTRA STOP: Before heading inside the park, grab coffee or hot chocolate at Read Between the Lynes, one of my favorite independent bookstore. They also have Groundhog Day souvenirs!

EXTRA STOP: Love anime? Anime and Things is one of our favorite anime shops around the area. Plus, a great spot to pick up Japanese snacks and drinks.

EXTRA STOP: These colorful “Love is Love” stairs are my favorite! Located at the corner of E. Van Buren and S. Benton St.

GAZEBO aka Bandstand Dance

Center of Woodstock Square Park

At the center of Woodstock Square Park is the location of the Band Stand Dance. Go ahead and dance like Phil and Rita!

THE OLD COURTHOUSE AKA LOCATION OF THE BAR SCENES FROM THE MOVIE

101 N. Johnson St.

Much to his dismay, Phil isn’t able to get home with talks of a blizzard on the way. He heads to the bar to drink his worries away and toasts to world peace. The bar is actually in the Old Courthouse. In 1974, the building was issued landmark status in the National Register of Historic Places. Now, it serves as a restaurant, The Public House, but it is under construction.

Fun fact: The Old Courthouse is located in the exact center of McHenry

TAQUERIA LA PLACITA AKA TIP TOP CAFE

108 Cass St.

Taqueria La Placita aka Tip Top Cafe is where Phil and Rita grabbed coffee and Phil first admitted his recurring dilemma.

Bill Murray’s Puddle

Curbside (108 Cass St.)

Just steps from Taqueria La Placita is where Phil kept stepping in the puddle again..and again…..

WOODSTOCK THEATER AKA ALPINE THEATER

209 Main St.

Remember when Phil brought his date to the theater in a Clint Eastwood outfit? During Groundhog Days, they having showings of the movie here!

EXTRA STOP: If you ever have the chance, I would highly recommend watching a flick here (make sure it’s in Auditorium 1.)  It’s absolutely breathtaking!  We love coming here for a budget-friendly flick where all shows are matinee shows are only $6.

The Mural

Mural pedway off Main St.

Though not in the movie, seeing the Groundhog Day mural is a worthwhile stop!

Walk around the corner to say hello to Woodstock Willie, The Groundhog.

EXTRA STOP: Getting hungry? Grab some of the best Chinese food from the area at Chop Suey Hut. Their fried chicken and egg rolls are always a go to!

Cherry Tree Inn aka Royal Victorian Manor

344 Fremont St.

The bed and breakfast at the end of the street is where Phil stayed and woke up morning after morning. My family and I had the opportunity to tour the B&B with Lori, one of the owners. She was super friendly and so knowledgeable about the movie. You’ll even find memorabilia, a few artifacts from the movie including the kettle used at the Tip Top Cafe. Although the room was filmed on a set, one shot where he looks out the window was filmed at the B&B.

If there is availability and you can score a room here, I’d definitely do it! How cool would it be to stay here? Read all about our tour here.

Tip: During Groundhog Days, they offer an open house so make sure to check their schedule.

Other stops on the Groundhog Day Walking Tour

Unfortunately, we ran out of time to see 3 of the sites on the tour.

Bowling Alley aka Wayne’s Lanes

109 Church Street

This is where Phil has a drink with a few locals. We didn’t get to go in but Lori from Cherry Tree Street Inn said it looks exactly like it did back in the days.

Moose Lodge

406 Clay Street

This is the site of the Groundhog Day Bachelor Auction.