White Squirrel Day will be a live event this year
Location:
Brevard Railroad Depot
(390 Railroad Ave., Brevard NC)
Date:
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Time:
Festivities start at 10am
Why: To raise money and awareness for Brevard’s licensed wildlife rehabilitators through the White Squirrel Institute.
These hard-working local volunteers rescue, save and nurse area squirrels (and other wildlife) back to health and do all their work with no other financial assistance. Wildlife rehabilitators pay for medical supplies, vet fees, medications and food out of their own pockets.
For the ninth year in a row, Groundhog Day will be celebrated in Brevard, North Carolina as “White Squirrel Day” This year’s event – much to the delight of white squirrel fans – will be held at Brevard’s downtown Railroad Depot. The public is invited to attend and meet Brevard’s new official white squirrel ambassador, Pisgah Penny, in person as she officiates over the festivities. The annual event has been held “virtually” for the last two years due to the pandemic.
In keeping with Brevard tradition, Pisgah Penny will take on her weather-prognosticating counterpart, Punxsutawney Phil, and will not only predict whether there will be six more weeks of winter, but she will also predict the winner of the upcoming Super Bowl football game. She assumed her prognosticating duties from her uncle, Pisgah Pete, who served as chief prognosticator for the event for seven years before announcing his retirement in 2022.
Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof will be on-hand to officially proclaim the day “White Squirrel Day.” WSQL radio personality, Don DeBiase, will assume the role of Master of Ceremonies, as he has each year since the event’s inception. The Jenny’s Minis Donut Bus food truck will also be on-site. In addition, Brevard’s “White Squirrel” radio station WSQL will broadcast the event live (102.1 FM, 1240 AM). The White Squirrel Day ceremony will also be video live-streamed (on WSQL Radio’s Facebook page), affording fans around the world the chance to watch Pisgah Penny make her predictions of winter weather and the winner of the Super Bowl. Super Bowl LVII is scheduled to be played on Sunday,February 12, 2023 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
This annual event is a fundraiser for The White Squirrel Institute, a local non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to local licensed wildlife rehabilitators who rescue and save local wildlife (including squirrels, birds, possums, and more). Monies are raised on-site through personal donations and an “Adopt a White Squirrel” program, where for $25, participants receive a white squirrel adoption certificate, the ability to name their rescued squirrel, and the satisfaction of helping local wildlife. Donations and adoptions can also be made throughout the year online at the White Squirrel Institute’s web site (www.whitesquirrelinstitute.org) and in-person at the Transylvania County Tourism and Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center in downtown Brevard. Under the guidance of Director Katy Rosenberg, The White Squirrel Institute has seen a significant increase in the number white squirrel adoptions since fund-raising efforts began in 2018. For more information about The White Squirrel Institute, please go to whitesquirrelinstitute.org. For more information about White Squirrel Day, please go to whitesquirrelday.com.
Article written by Ann Sharpsten for the Transylvania Times.
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