LEWISTOWN — New York has the Big Apple, Punxsutawney has Phil and today the residents of the Juniata Valley have Goose Day.

For more than two centuries, this quirky holiday has been observed, which some locals compare to Groundhog Day, but with a key twist of eating the bird.

“We love celebrating the traditions that have made Goose Day special for generations, but we also can’t resist celebrating new ways for people to join the fun,” said Jenny Landis, executive director of the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau. “This year’s mix of classic and goosier events promises to make this year’s celebration the goosiest one yet.”

And the goose isn’t just plopped into an oven like a Thanksgiving turkey, although a classic goose dinner might include familiar sides like mashed potatoes and corn.

Serving up goose

Restaurants – and even cooks at home – can get creative, using goose as a topping, filling or theme today. That means creative twists like scattering the fowl across pizza, stewing it into soup, folding it into crepes or tacos and even including it on the menu in pate or sliders. These unique ways to serve goose leave diners honking for more.

Search online and you’ll find more, with recipes for roasting, grilling, braising, shredding and butchering goose.

Of course, each method has its own set of steps and techniques so bon appetit. Roast goose is the most historic fare for a holiday dinner. (Remember that scene from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”?)

Some prefer the smoky flavor of grilling or the tender results of braising, there are many ways to enjoy the rich flavors of wildly delicious goose.

Legendary lore

Why geese? Legend has it that eating goose meat today will bring prosperity and financial security for the coming year. The Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau credits 18th-century English settler Archibald Hunter with sharing the notion that eating goose would bring good luck.

Other sources say it originated with a local farmer who needed a way to rid himself of a growing flock.

Regardless of its origin, Goose Day has turned into a point of local pride that seems to keep growing each and every year.

Because Goose Day revolves around eating the namesake bird, restaurants play a major role in the celebration. This year, at least a dozen eateries in the area will serve classic roast goose dinners. The visitors bureau estimates they’ll sell a combined 3,000 goose dinners.

More than just fare

As the Goose Day celebration has grown, it’s become more than just food.

On Friday, Wild Geese: Flock Together, an ongoing public art project started by local non-profit Community Partnerships, unveiled “Booster” which landed at the Yeagertown Fire Department. The fiberglass goose sculpture marks the 52nd goose to join the flock.

After the wildly popular Lucky Friday, the 300 drones in the Goose Day Drone Light Show electrified the night skies over downtown Lewistown.

Saturday also marked the 47th Annual Goose Day 5K Run, which attracted a record turnout of 228 competitors for the downtown Lewistown event. There was also a Goose Hunt at Bilger’s Pumpkins in McVeytown, a rubber duck river race in Kish Creek to benefit the Dream Center in Burnham and even a hawk watch event at the top of Jack’s Mountain Road in McVeytown.

Sunday Funday

On Sunday, there were Goose Day activities with yoga in the vineyard at Brookmere Winery, a 12-mile casual bike ride and even story and craft time with Princess Luna.

Goose Day Sunday at the McCoy House Museum and Old Town Cemetery, both in Lewistown, offered opportunities to view historical Goose Day memorabilia as well as see the progress artist Aubrey Kirkland is making on the mural on the Old Town Cemetery wall and find the hidden goose in the painting.

On Sunday, Juniata County also held its “Bells Across PA” Liberty Bell at the Pomeroy-Academia Covered Bridge in Port Royal. Artist Hannah Tamanini shared her design for the bell to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in 2026.

Today, Mifflin County has scheduled its Liberty Bell unveiling for 1 p.m. at the Mifflin County Courthouse in Lewistown. Artist Jennifer Hartzler will share her design for the bell.

On Sunday, Sept. 21, Goose Day activities kicked off with the Annual Scavenger Hunt as first place went to the team of Mariah Stimely, Stephanie Hartley, Justin Hartley and Andrew Stringfellow. They amassed a total of 177 points and now have the honor of planning next year’s road rally.

Poets among us

Friday night’s event inspired Rebecca Taylor to write this lovely poem, which was posted on the visitors bureau’s social media:

Twas the Lucky Friday before goose day, when all through the town

every person was gathered,

the children all danced around;

The drone show lit up the sky with cheer,

as oos and awes filled the air;

The children then nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of blackberries danced in their heads;

With goose dinners in their bellies, and memories in their hearts,

Happy Goose Day, and prosperity to all!