It was a groundbreaking celebration, in more ways than one. Here are a few tidbits to round up the day:

• According to the Department of Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations, this year’s official Groundhog Day event was the best attended in Park history. A record number of Animals, ranging in age from newborn Bears to some of our oldest reptile citizens, graced us with their presence
• For the first time in over a decade, ill health kept chief organizer Wyatt Whistlepig, Jr. from the celebrations. In his stead, Oscar Woodchuck did a fine job
• Eight different food providers staffed the food stations
• This was the first Groundhog Day celebration that included a dance choreographed specifically for the event by Herman Stoat
• For the first time in the history of the event, a short play was performed by the Working Wounded Performing Arts Company
• The Archons’ Address lasted 17 minutes and included a tribute to Jor, the founder of zoocracy
• The 2015 Archons promised to bring in a budget in the first two months of their tenure and to make the issue of inequality among the species a priority
• The Park’s Early Risers hosted their own after-party and Animals partied into the late morning hours of February 3
• Twenty-one injuries were reported as a result of the celebration. Four Animals were taken to hospital and seventeen were treated on-site