A change in location did not dampen a longstanding Reading tradition on Monday morning, as the 21st annual Patty Pagoda Groundhog Day celebration unfolded along Penn Street rather than atop Mount Penn.
Originally scheduled for the Pagoda parking lot, organizers moved the event to the “READING Pagoda” sign in the 800 block of Penn Street due to concerns about road conditions on the mountain and forecasted wind chill. At the time of the prediction, temperatures were approximately 15 degrees.
Despite the cold, a crowd of community members, local officials, and media representatives gathered at the alternate site to watch Reading’s famous forecaster deliver her verdict.
Joey Miranda, president of the Foundation for the Reading Pagoda, said the venue change ultimately allowed more people to participate.
“This is a great alternate site and a great turn out. I didn’t want her to see her shadow but she did” he said. “This is a great tradition and bridges the gap between the past, the present and the future. Even if it’s only a few minutes of laughter, that’s what it’s all about.”
As in years past, the ceremony blended folklore with a nod to local history. Organizers often note that Feb. 2 marks Candlemas Day, a midpoint in winter when people historically sought blessings for the remainder of the season. The Pennsylvania German tradition later incorporated a groundhog in 1887, a custom that eventually spread across the state.
According to local lore, Patty Pagoda first made her home on Mount Penn after leaving Aulenbach’s Cemetery, establishing her burrow among remnants of household items left on the mountainside.
With attendees chanting her name, Patty emerged to make her prediction. In the clear morning light, she saw her shadow—indicating six more weeks of winter.
Patty’s forecast aligned with that of Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, who also saw his shadow earlier that morning at Gobbler’s Knob.
While some spectators expressed hope for an early spring, organizers noted that the official start of the season does not arrive until March 20 regardless of the prediction.
As the brief ceremony concluded, attendees took photos and thanked volunteers from the Foundation for the Reading Pagoda and Pagoda-Skyline, Inc., who continue to present the annual event while interior renovations at the Pagoda remain underway.
