People in Milltown will once again have to watch the Groundhog Day ceremonies on TV from Punxsutawney instead of holding their own celebration on Feb. 2.

Milltown Mel’s mid-winter appearance has been canceled for the fifth year in a row.

It’s a sight that mirrored Punxsutawney but without the five-hour drive. For 11 years, Milltown Mel predicted the rest of the winter weather and thrilled spectators of all ages.

“Actually, we are related to the same group and approved by Punxsutawney their association when Jerry and Kathy Guthlein started this in 2009,” said Russell Einbinder, one of Milltown Mel’s “wranglers.”

“Everybody’s out crack of dawn just enjoying it all the festivities revolve around it and it’s just a wonderful event,” said Milltown Mayor George Murray.

COVID-19 shut down festivities in 2021, and then the untimely death of Mel just a week before the 2022 event, put a stop to the festivities ever since.

RELATED: Milltown Groundhog Day event canceled after organizers fail to procure a groundhog

RELATED: NJ mourns loss of Milltown Mel; Groundhog Day ceremonies canceled

Strict DEP regulations in place for years have led to the cancellation of the early morning party because they can’t legally find a new groundhog.

“Right now, the state’s mandate is that we can’t get it from all these places down south, like Tennessee, we brought one in and had to give it back,” said Einbinder.

When the last Groundhog Day celebration was held in the parking lot of the American Legion back in February 2020, it had grown so much in popularity the crowds exceeded 1,000 people.

It's a short, 11-year tradition, deeply missed by the town, says Kelsey Hershorn, a worker at Francesco Pizza.

“We mostly have a lot of older customers come in and they love how the community is very tight knit and how they do things like Groundhog Day and they’re sad about it because they love doing those things,” she said.

Behind the scenes, Einbinder and the rest of the “wranglers,” Milltown’s version of Punxsutawney’s “inner circle,” are still hoping to bring it back.

“We actually went and testified with the legislature, and they loved the idea, but it takes time to makes these things move through the process and it wasn’t in time for this year,” said Einbinder.

For now, the hope is to welcome the rodent’s return in 2026. But much like Mel’s weather predictions, nothing is guaranteed.