Point Park University’s Campus Activity Board will host a Groundhog Day event for students and staff as a way to celebrate the holiday with crafts, live music and regional food on Thursday, Feb. 2.

The event will take place in the Lawrence Hall lobby from 7-9 p.m.

“We want it to be a way for students to experience Punxsutawney Phil without having to wake up at 2 a.m. to go see him,” said Kristi Chenarides, the Experience Pittsburgh coordinator for the Campus Activity Board. Chenarides said that to her knowledge, an event hasn’t been put on at Point Park University to celebrate Groundhog Day until now.

Punxsutawney Phil is the name given to the groundhog that determines the length of the rest of the winter season based on whether or not he sees his own shadow. According to folklore, Groundhog Day is an annual holiday that originated in central and southeastern Pennsylvania, though the official celebrations are now held in nearby Punxsutawney.

Groundhog Day is traditionally celebrated with German food and music. Chenarides stated that the Campus Activity Board has activities planned for the event, which conform to the holiday’s customs.

“We’re going to have perogies, crafts and interesting facts about groundhogs,” Chenarides said.

The Campus Activity Board is bringing in Pat Septak, an accordion player, to provide live music at the event, as well.

Septak is a regular performer at the Holiday Market in Market Square, which ran from Nov. 18 to Dec. 23 in 2016. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership passed his information along to Chenarides for the event, and she and Septak coordinated for the event’s music.

“I asked what [Chenarides] wanted and she said a lot of polka and upbeat songs, so I’ll be playing a lot of those types of songs,” Septak said. “She told me to keep it lively, and of course I’ll take requests of anything people have.”

Septak’s act also involves aspects of a variety show, including interaction with the audience and group dances. For the Groundhog Day event, though, Septak will showcase his polka tunes.

“The polkas I generally do are the more popular ones: The bear girl, the Pennsylvania polka,” Septak said. “I do songs that aren’t polkas per-se but they have a polka feel to it. I even do a few Beatles songs in my act.”

Septak has played the accordion since he was a child, though he only began playing to crowds after playing on-air on WJAS’ Bill Cardille Show. Septak currently works at WBVP and WMBA radio in Beaver Falls, Pa., where he serves as the news director.

Chenarides said that the Campus Activity Board is fully prepared for either of Punxsutawney Phil’s conclusions, with plans to decorate the lobby of Lawrence Hall with both spring and winter themes. CAB has planned the event for about 200 people to show up and booked the celebration on a Thursday night to make the party more casual and inviting.

“You can stop by and relax, it’s not too strenuous,” Chenarides said.