Should you pack away those gloves, scarves and snow boots? Or should you keep your shovel and rock salt handy?

Find out what Mount Joy Minnie predicts when she makes her annual Groundhog Day prognostication at the Rotary clock, located at the intersection of Marietta Avenue and East Main Street in Mount Joy, at 7 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 2.

This will be the 18th year Minnie (a furry puppet) will predict whether we'll enjoy more winter or be treated to an early spring.

Mount Joy Area Chamber of Commerce director Michele Emenheiser shared that there are three people to thank for Minnie's predictions: Robert and Sharon Myers and Nancy Shonk. 

Robert Myers, who owned As the Crow Flies along with his wife, Sharon, held the borough's first Groundhog Day event on Feb. 2, 2008.

He passed away later that year, and the event was paused in 2009. In 2010, Nancy Shonk, who was the Chamber director at the time, asked Sharon if the Chamber could continue the tradition.

"She totally approved and gave me Mount Joy Minnie and her little tree stump," Shonk said. Nancy was Mount Joy Minnie's handler for the next 11 years before passing the honor along to Greg Sallade and Carl Hackman.

Sallade continues his role as Minnie's handler and will be joined again this year by Denny Brandt and guest handler Jacob Ziegler.

"Being Mount Joy Minnie's handler is an honor," said Sallade, now in his sixth year in this role. "She is well loved in the community and brings a lot of joy to Mount Joy."

That's a sentiment shared by Brandt, who served as Minnie's guest handler in 2023 before becoming her co-handler in 2024.

Ziegler will return as Mount Joy Minnie's guest handler this year, and he's excited to be a part of the small-town celebration.

"Growing up, I loved all the little traditions Mount Joy had. Being able to be Minnie's guest handler lets me be a part of those traditions," Ziegler said. "Seeing all of the kids enjoying Minnie and building their love for our community makes standing out there in the cold worth it!"

Minnie's name and straw hat pay homage to the late Minnie Pearl, a comedian and country singer, known for wearing a straw hat bearing a hanging price tag.

Hats are a tradition at Minnie's event. This year, every child who wears a fun, creative hat will receive a coupon good for a soft pretzel from Dutch Country Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels, courtesy of Chris Niles, owner of Keystone Lawn Company, the event's sponsor. Adults will also be judged for their creative hats, with winners receiving Mount Joy Money.

"We enjoy sponsoring Mount Joy Minnie, because it reminds us that spring is around the corner and the days will be getting longer, with the smell of fresh flowers and a fresh-cut lawn in the air," Niles said.

At the ceremony, attendees are invited to enjoy doughnuts, supplied by Voyage Mount Joy, along with coffee and hot chocolate served by American Legion Post 185.

More information about the event can be found at https://mountjoychamber.com. Readers who are unable to attend the event can watch Minnie make her prediction on the Mount Joy Chamber Facebook page.