WHAT:
Cast members from the movie Groundhog Day will honor writer/director Harold Ramis with a Groundhog Day Celebration.
WHERE:
Harry Caray’s Tavern Navy Pier
700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
(312) 527-9700 | www.harrycarays.com
WHEN:
Groundhog Day | Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025
Ceremony Time: 3:00 p.m. CST
The event is free and open to the public. Harry Caray’s Tavern will be open for regular dining, and will feature food and beverages inspired by Groundhog Day’s Tip Top Café. Discounted parking at Navy Pier will be available for $20 with validation.
Fans are invited to join the 2nd annual celebration of Harold Ramis’ extraordinary life and career with an official Groundhog Day Celebration on February 2 at Harry Caray’s Tavern Navy Pier. (Harold was a partner in the restaurant.) To commemorate Chicago’s officially declared Harold Ramis Day, cast members from the celebrated 1993 comedy Groundhog Day, co-written and directed by Ramis, will participate in this special public event on Navy Pier.
Cast members scheduled to appear include Stephen Tobolowsky (Ned Ryerson), Peggy Roeder (the Piano Teacher), and Richard Henzel (the DJ).
When the alarm clock flips from 2:59 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and “I Got You Babe” plays, cast members will share remarks about Harold and the film. Fan favorite “Ned Ryerson” (Stephen Tobolowsky), as the new “President of the Chicago Groundhog Club,” will lead the Groundhog Day Ceremony, during which Chicago Harry, a live groundhog, will emerge from his tree stump to reveal if he sees his shadow (predicting six more weeks of winter).
Harry Caray’s Tavern will transform into a fully immersive Groundhog Day experience, featuring food and beverages inspired by Groundhog Day’s Tip Top Café. Several artifacts from Harold’s storied career will be on display, including the Armani coat Bill Murray wore in Groundhog Day, the bust of Harold Ramis from the 2016 version of Ghostbusters, the jumpsuits worn by Harold Ramis and Bill Murray in Ghostbusters, and several of Harold’s leather-bound shooting scripts, including Groundhog Day.
The festivities will be celebrated throughout Navy Pier. The film and soundtrack will play inside the Fifth Third Bank Family Pavilion, and an image of a groundhog will be featured as the centerpiece of the Centennial Wheel. Restaurants throughout the Pier will offer Groundhog Day-themed specials, and Navy Pier’s Sable Hotel will be renamed the “Pennsylvanian Hotel” for the day in honor of the hotel featured in the movie.
ABOUT HARRY CARAY’S TAVERN
Located near the main entrance to Navy Pier, Harry Caray’s Tavern’s waterfront location, family friendly menu, and extensive collection of sports and pop culture memorabilia combine to create a one-of-a-kind dining experience for guests of all ages. Harry Caray's Tavern on Navy Pier offers a quintessential Chicago dining experience with stunning waterfront views. Located in one of the city’s most popular destinations, the tavern is renowned for its delicious Italian & American cuisine, featuring juicy burgers, hearty sandwiches, and fresh salads. The restaurant’s vibrant sports bar atmosphere is enhanced by an impressive collection of sports and pop-culture memorabilia, making it a must-visit for fans of all kinds. With HDTVs throughout, the restaurant and patio bar provide great viewing of all major sporting events. Families will appreciate the kid-friendly menu and spacious outdoor seating. Soak up the best of "Summertime Chi" on our dog-friendly patio, or embrace the winter wonderland with our seasonal Lakefront Lodge Pop-Up. Whether you're stopping by for a casual meal, a refreshing craft beer, or to host a private event, Harry Caray's Tavern provides an unforgettable experience for both locals and visitors alike. For more information, visit harrycarays.com/harry-carays-tavern-navy-pier.
ABOUT HAROLD RAMIS
Born and raised in Chicago, Harold Ramis was a screenwriter, director, and actor whose films include some of the most popular and influential comedies of our time—Animal House, Caddyshack, Stripes, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Ghostbusters, Back to School, Groundhog Day, Multiplicity, Analyze This, Bedazzled, Analyze That, The Ice Harvest, and Year One. Ramis began his comedy career in 1969 at Chicago’s famed Second City Improvisational Theatre Troupe while working as Associate Editor at Playboy Magazine. Ramis’ Hollywood breakthrough came in 1978 with National Lampoon’s Animal House. Over the course of his career, he received numerous accolades, including the American Comedy Award, the British Comedy Award, and a BAFTA Award for screenwriting (Groundhog Day). His films are widely celebrated, with four listed among the American Film Institute’s “100 Funniest Movies” and Groundhog Day named one of the “101 Greatest Screenplays” by the Writers Guild of America.
Harold Ramis passed away on February 24, 2014, but his legacy continues to inspire and entertain fans worldwide.
ABOUT GROUNDHOG DAY
Groundhog Day is a 1993 American comedy directed by Harold Ramis and written by Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin. Starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott, the film tells the story of Phil Connors (Murray), a cynical television weatherman covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, who becomes trapped in a time loop, reliving February 2nd repeatedly.
Since its release, the film has been lauded as one of the greatest comedies of all time and has significantly impacted popular culture. The term Groundhog Day, meaning a monotonous, unpleasant, and repetitive situation, has become part of the English lexicon.
ABOUT NAVY PIER
Located on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is the top nonprofit tourism destination in the Midwest, stretching more than six city blocks and typically welcoming nearly 9 million annual guests. Originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, this Chicago landmark showcases more than 50 acres of parks, restaurants, attractions, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats, exposition facilities, and more. The Pier celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016 with the unveiling of the iconic Centennial Wheel, Polk Bros Park, Family Pavilion and Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion. Today, Navy Pier continues to usher in its second century with ongoing Pier-wide redevelopment efforts – including Sable, a 223-room Hilton hotel, new restaurant and retail partnerships, and thrilling new attractions such as Flyover Chicago and Illuminarium. The Pier is proud to present free, year-round cultural programming designed to inspire, educate, and connect communities across the city and globe. Click here to donate to Navy Pier, a mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit NavyPier.org.