Unadilla 2022 'Believe in the Shadow'

UNADILLA – The 34^th annual Groundhog Day Celebration in Unadilla included a surprise crowning of the lifetime king and queen.

Because the regular pageant was postponed until next year, current King Brett Dettmer and Queen Jan Moore have the distinction of being the longest serving royalty in the celebration’s history.

This year, organizer Bob Brandt announced Mark Enenbach and Lois Ebert as lifetime king and queen.

 

 

Enenbach was part of the Groundhog Central Committee from the beginning and Ebert has a daughter who was born on Groundhog’s Day. Four generations of the family attended Saturday.

The reigning queen addressed the groundhog commonwealth at the Duncan Building.

 

Moore: “Brett and I did run on the platform on getting Spam into the Runza’s. That was our big goal to get Spam into the Runza Restaurants, but instead we got Runza in Syracuse, which is still good.”

Last year’s parade was canceled due to the pandemic, so Moore said it is great to be back on mission.

Moore: “We’re always promoting our groundhog nation. Always promoting the groundhogs.”

The celebration included the Piano Bar music of the “Soundhogs” featuring Randy Baker, John Moss and Pat Glenn.

The Ford Falcon is the official car of Groundhog’s Day and Larry Beer’s Ford Falcon made its 34^th appearance. As always the parade was led by Bob Brandt’s Falcon with Unadilla Billie riding on the hood.