It’s going to be cold, wet and muddy, but a whole lot of fun Wednesday as Lilburn’s chief weather forecaster — Gen. Beau Lee — determines if there will be an early spring or six more weeks of winter.

The annual Groundhog Day celebration at the Yellow River Game Ranch on Stone Mountain Highway will attract perhaps hundreds of onlookers to watch the plump rodent come outside to look for his shadow.

You know the folklore, right? If the groundhog sees his shadow, we’ll have six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, we’ll have an early spring.

Stefanie Reeves at the game ranch says ol’ Beau has gotten his prediction right more than 90 percent of the time. This is the 31^st year for Yellow River’s Groundhog Day event.

“It’s kind of fun and crazy,” Reeves said. “One year, we had 1,800 people show up. Seriously, it’s crazy.”

Beau  is guaranteed to come out Wednesday morning, Reeves said, thanks to food and curiosity. “He’s going to be out and he’s going to be excited to see everyone. It’s going to be too noisy for him to stay inside.”

The gates open at 5:30 a.m., and it’s a good idea to arrive early to get a good angle to see him and take pictures. Beau is expected to make his prediction between 7:20 and 7:50 a.m. Chopper, the Gwinnett Braves mascot, also will be in attendance.

Reeves said admission is free up until 8 a.m., and visitors can spend the rest of the day at the game ranch.