UNADILLA – Shortly after Unadilla was proclaimed the Groundhog Capital of Nebraska in 1988, former Gov. Kay Orr wrote a letter the local newspaper commending the groundhog central committee for its attention to weather forecasting and asking for moisture in the form of rain. That request was fulfilled 35 years later on Saturday when the Unadilla faithful brought out the umbrellas for the first rainy-day parade.

 

Organizer Bill Brandt declared that Unadilla Billie did not see her shadow at sunrise on Groundhog’s Day and said she sung a spring poem predicting that there will soon be red roses. That unlikely event got a boost Saturday with what Brandt says was the first rain for the village’s parade. A half inch fell at Unadilla, but the groundhog marched on.

 

 

Brett Fritch and Glenda Wilnerd were crowned the 2024 king and queen following the parade.

Over $10,000 was raised for the fire and rescue squads through royalty voting.