SNOHOMISH — The crowd was hopping, ribbiting and even frog kissing as the legendary Snohomish Slew got a jump on Punxsutawney Phil at annual GroundFrog Day festivities in Snohomish on Saturday.
The four-pound bullfrog arrived by fire truck to the Snohomish Event Gazebo to make his “frognostication” on whether the Pacific Northwest will see spring or winter conditions for the next six weeks.
“It’s the anticipation that’s exciting,” said Slew’s handler, Thayer Cueter, of Edmonds’ nonprofit amphibian rescue center. “He’s much better than Punksatony Phil. Frogs are the indicator of spring.”
Tim Noah, an Emmy award-winning songwriter with the Thumbnail Theater, played guitar, leading the crowd in song and dance as they waited for Slew’s prediction.
“This is a wonderful day in Snohomish,” Noah said.
Ali Davenport and her teammates from Snohomish Youth Volleyball were passing out green beads and hula hoops to the crowd.
“We’re doing our community service today,” Davenport, 13, said.
Many had their faces painted with frogs or carried stuffed amphibians. Snohomish frog mascots, Tad and Lily, danced with Webley, of the Everett AquaSox.
Princess Amphibiana, Kristyl Osborne, a Snohomish High School graduate, watched as some people gave kisses to the frog as he made way to the microphone.
Slew’s silence indicates six more weeks of cold for the Pacific Northwest.
“Not even the fire engine made him croak,” Cueter said.
While Slew delivered a disappointing prognostication for the weather, he wasn’t all bad news.
The New York native bullfrog did predict a Super Bowl win for the Seahawks today.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com.
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