friday, ​feb. 2nd
(GROUNDHOG DAY)

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ceremony time:
3:00 PM

a day worth repeating again, ​and again, and again...

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW ​THE LIVESTREAM OF THE CEREMONY

Fans are invited to join in the celebration of Harold Ramis’ extraordinary life and career with an official Groundhog Day Celebration on Feb. 2 at Harry Caray's Tavern Navy Pier to honor the 10th anniversary of Harold’s passing.

To commemorate Chicago’s officially declared Harold Ramis Day, cast members from the celebrated 1993 comedy Groundhog Day (co-written and directed by Ramis) will join Erica Mann Ramis (wife of Harold Ramis) in a special public event on Navy Pier.

​When the alarm clock flips from 2:59 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and “I Got You Babe” plays, all will gather on the patio at Harry Caray's Tavern to commemorate Harold Ramis’ life and accomplished career in film. Erica Mann Ramis and various cast members will share a few words about Harold and the film. Buster Green (Brian Doyle-Murray), as “President of the Chicago Groundhog Club,” will initiate the Groundhog Day Ceremony where Chicago Harry, the live groundhog, will emerge from his tree stump to reveal if he sees his shadow (meaning 6 more weeks of winter is expected).

Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly will close out the ceremony by reading a City of Chicago proclamation declaring it Harold Ramis Day in Chicago.

The Groundhog Day Ceremony will take place outside on the patio and is open to the public. Warm beverages will be available for purchase at the outdoor bar.

GROUNDHOG DAY CAST REUNION

Cast members scheduled to appear include: Brian Doyle-Murray (Buster Green), Stephen Tobolowsky (Ned Ryerson), Marita Geraghty (Nancy Taylor), Robin Duke (Doris the Waitress), David Pasquesi (the Psychiatrist), Ken Hudson Campbell (Man in Hallway), Peggy Roeder (the Piano Teacher), Richard Henzel (the DJ), and Don Rio McNichols (Drum Player). This will be the first time the memorable cast has officially reunited since the film’s release.

AN immersive groundhog day experience

Harry Caray’s Tavern will transform into a truly immersive Groundhog Day experience, featuring food and beverages inspired by Groundhog Day’s Tip Top Café, a snowman, and large ice sculptures, similar to those seen in the movie. Several artifacts from Harold’s storied career will be on display including the Armani coat Bill Murray wore in Groundhog Day, the bust of Harold Ramis that appeared in the 2016 version of Ghostbusters, the jumpsuits worn by Harold Ramis and Bill Murray in Ghostbusters, and several of Harold’s leather-bound shooting scripts including Groundhog Day.
h a r o l d   r a m i s

A b o u t
​h a r o l d   r a m i s:

Born and raised in Chicago, Harold Ramis was a screenwriter, director and actor whose films include some of the most popular and influential comedies of our time--Animal House, Caddyshack, Stripes, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Ghostbusters, Back to School, Groundhog Day, Multiplicity, Analyze This, Bedazzled, Analyze That, The Ice Harvest and Year One. He got his start in comedy in 1969 at Chicago’s famed Second City Improvisational Theatre Troupe, while still employed as Associate Editor at Playboy Magazine. Ramis’ Hollywood breakthrough came in 1978 when he co-wrote the blockbuster comedy National Lampoon’s Animal House. Having received his BA from Washington University in St. Louis, Ramis was awarded honorary Doctorates in Arts from both Columbia College Chicago and Washington University, and was a former member of the Washington University Board of Trustees. Among his numerous professional honors and awards, Ramis was the recipient of the American Comedy Award, the British Comedy Award, and the BAFTA (British Academy) award for screenwriting (Groundhog Day) and The Just for Laughs Lifetime Achievement Award. Four of his films were listed among the American Film Institutes’ “100 Funniest Movies” and Groundhog Day was named as one of the “101 Greatest Screenplays” by the Writers Guild of America. Ramis also directed several episodes of television’s acclaimed series The Office.

Harold Ramis died on February 24, 2014. His work is still celebrated by fans worldwide.
G R O U N D H O G   D A Y  (1993)

A b o u t
​G R O U N D H O G   D A Y:

Groundhog Day is a 1993 American comedy directed by Harold Ramis and written by Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin. Starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott, it tells the story of Phil Connors (Murray), a cynical television weatherman covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. He becomes trapped in a time loop, forcing him to relive February 2nd repeatedly.

In the years since its release, the film has grown in esteem. It is often considered to be among one of the greatest films of the 1990s and one of the greatest comedy movies ever. The film has had a significant effect on popular culture: the term "Groundhog Day", meaning a monotonous, unpleasant, and repetitive situation, has become part of the English lexicon.
N A V Y   P I E R

A b o u t
n a v y   p i e r:

IG: @Navypierchicago  /  FB: @navypierchicago
Website: Navypier.org

Located on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is the top nonprofit tourism destination in the Midwest, stretching more than six city blocks and typically welcoming nearly 9 million annual guests. Originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, this Chicago landmark showcases more than 50 acres of parks, restaurants, attractions, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats, exposition facilities and more. The Pier celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016 with the unveiling of the iconic Centennial Wheel, Polk Bros Park, Fifth Third Bank Family Pavilion and Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion. In 2021, Navy Pier continued to usher in its second century with ongoing Pier-wide redevelopment efforts—including Sable, a 223-room Hilton hotel, new restaurants and partnerships, and thrilling additions to Pier Park. The Pier is also proud to continue providing free, year-round arts and cultural programming designed to inspire, educate and connect communities across the city and globe. Click here to donate to Navy Pier, a mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization, in support of the organization’s post-pandemic revival and free public programming. For more information, visit www.navypier.org.
Navy Pier will also participate in the festivities. The film and soundtrack will play inside the Fifth Third Bank Family Pavilion and an image of a groundhog will be featured as the centerpiece of the Centennial Wheel.

​Various restaurants on the Pier will be doing Groundhog Day specials including Chef Art Smith's Reunion, and Margaritaville Chicago. Navy Pier’s Sable Hotel will be calling itself the “Pennsylvanian Hotel” for the day in honor of the hotel featured in the movie.

oTHER nAVY pIER rESTAURANTS JOINING IN ON THE FUN!

If the bar at Harry Caray's Tavern is full after the ceremony, be sure to check out the following Navy Pier Restaurants participating in the festivities!
  • ​REUNION
  • ​MARGARITAVILLE
  • LIRICA
Chef Art Smith's Reunion, located right next door to Harry Caray's Tavern, will be playing Groundhog Day on their monitors and treating guests to a complimentary taste of their signature Punxsutawney Punch which will be available for purchase all day. Additional offerings include a GREAT Instagrammable moment where guests can take their pic being a groundhog. Make sure you say the line "I had groundhog for lunch, tastes like chicken" to get dessert comped on the house! Click below to make a reservation.
Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Chicago located on Navy Pier will have food and drink specials paying homage to the movie Groundhog Day available all day. Click below to reserve your spot!
Lirica, a Latin-Inspired Restaurant located in the Sable Hotel on Navy Pier, will feature a special Groundhog Day Prix-Fixe Menu and specialty cocktails. Click below to view the menu or make a reservation.

Holy Cow! Thanks for stopping by!

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