PHOTO CREDIT: RICH AUBE
Come on out and support the Hollywood Beach Lifeguard Competition Team at what has been called Hollywood’s silliest annual event at the crack of dawn (that’s 6:30 am) on Groundhog Day, February 2. Local swimmers take their traditional ocean plunge in “sub-sizzling temperatures” at the same time weather forecasting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil predicts the end of winter in Pennsylvania.
The 14th Annual Groundhog Day on Hollywood Beach festivities begin with a breakfast from 6:30-8 a.m. at Ocean Alley Restaurant and Beach Bar, located at 900 N. Broadwalk (at Indiana Street) on the world-famous Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. The Groundhog Swim will begin at 7:30 am. A $12 donation includes breakfast and a free souvenir T-shirt for swimmers.
Shirts are also available for non-swimmers at an additional $12 as long as quantities last. Proceeds will benefit the Hollywood Beach Lifeguard Competition Team to help cover travel expenses for its national competition in Virginia Beach this fall. Despite having only 7 team members, Hollywood Lifeguards took home 6 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze medals last year in Daytona Beach. Three time champions Boki Corsovic and Jose Bolivar will be back to recapture their surf rowing crown.
Sponsors include Ocean Alley, The Beach Bums Chapter of the Groundhog Club, Hollywood Beach Business Association, Hollywood CRA, Rich Formal Wear, Burkhardt Construction, Lojetta Group, Cahoots Newspaper and the Diplomat Resort & Spa.
The event will include a special appearance by Punxsutawney Phil and live coverage of Groundhog Day from Punxsutawney, PA., the “Weather Capital of the World”, which will predict how much longer winter will last, which doesn’t really matter to those of us who live in Hollywood, but it’s always nice to know.
Children of all ages are welcome. There is free parking at A1A and Indiana Street until 8 a.m.
For more information call Jeff Hansen at 954-929-9334 or email him at hlwdcahoot@aol.com.