It will soon be time for one of the Southern End's richest traditions.

The Slumbering Groundhog Lodge, 248 White Rock Road, Quarryville, will hold its 118th celebration of Groundhog Day on, of course, Monday, Feb 2. Everyone is invited to the outdoors event, which will be held snow or shine. The lodge building is not open to the public.

Beginning at 7 a.m. under the pavilion, coffee and doughnuts will be provided to visitors.

Lodge members will convene in front of the White Rock Covered Bridge at 8 a.m. At 8:15 a.m., there will be a parade led by Hibernating Governor Charlie Hart and Defender of the Faith Stu Mylin.

Next in line will be the "inner sanctum," which is composed of members 75 years old and older, and then the eight squads - Dunking Squad, Snoop Squad, Shale Belt Squad, Puddle Duck Squad, Talley Ho Squad, Card Sharks Squad, Dill Pickles Squad, and Baldy Bute Squad.

Following the parade, everyone will gather in the parking lot in front of the Pinnacle of Prognostication, where Octoraro Orphie will take center stage. "Myself and the Defender of the Faith will be on the pinnacle, which is a manure spreader," said Hart. "The squads will give their report on what they found during the night as far as Orphie goes. They'll give their report to me, and then after that, I will give the final report of whether or not Orphie sees his shadow."

One thing will be missing from this year's festivities - new lodge inductees. No one applied, so there will be no baby groundhogs for the first time in memory, and no one will be dunked into the west branch of the Octoraro Creek barring a surprise, which can't be ruled out.

After Orphie's forecast, the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge's Class of 2018 will present a skit. Each year, the class that reaches its seventh year of membership is in charge of putting on a skit in front of the crowd on Groundhog Day. It is the Class of 2018's turn because there was no celebration during COVID.

"I think it's entertaining," said board member Erick Anderson. "The whole thing coming off the bridge, the parade, that's entertaining. There are bonfires going on and a lot of good socialization."

Board member Keith Kreider added, "It's just a great party. It's just a fun place to be."

During January, members meet weekly at the lodge. "We have breakfast and lunch, and that happens each Sunday in January up to Groundhog Day, and then Groundhog Day is our grand finale," Hart said.