Happy New Year!

Santa Sighting Over Scranton

Santa has always gone green with his environmentally friendly and nearly zero emissions vehicle.

Twelve Days of Christmas in Nay Aug Park

On the first day of Christmas.....

Igloo, Sweet Igloo

It may not be Antarctica, but with yet another day that did not see our high temperature make it out of the 20's, these penguins have nothing to complain about.  

Welcome to Nay Aug Park

Season of the Snowman

When I look out my window,
what do you think I see?
Some cool cat
looking over his shoulder at me.
And it's strange.
Sure seems strange.
There's snow on the ground,
and it's 18 degrees.
Must be the season of the Snowman.
(Apologies and thanks to Donovan for "Season of the Witch".)

Holiday Light Display

The Nay Aug Park Holiday Lights can be seen from the warm comfort of your car.  This sign points the way to the beginning of the car tour, but smaller and more modest lights are scattered throughout the park as can be seen in the background of this picture. 

Ghosts of Nay Aug Park Zoo

These Holiday Lights are the only animals that you will see at the Nay Aug Park Zoo.  The zoo, once apparently famous for Tilly the elephant, mercifully closed in 1988.  The zoo was rather confining and inhospitable to its residents, and it was considered to be one of the most inhumane in the country.  It reopened in 2003 as a wildlife rehabilitation center before closing again in 2009.

The Electric City Holiday Lights

Nay Aug Park Holiday Lights

The David J. Wenzel Treehouse Holiday Lights Honor Guard

These Holiday Lights Soldiers make a fitting honor guard for the entrance to the David J. Wenzel Treehouse.  While serving as a First Lieutenant in Vietnam in 1971, David Wenzel was severely wounded and suffered the loss of both legs, his left hand and the use of one eye.  His injuries did not slow him down much as he went on to earn an MBA in 1974, work in a number of government positions, and serve as Scranton's twenty-seventh mayor from 1986-1990.  Recent activities include authoring a book about Scranton's mayors and working as an adjunct professor for the University of Scranton and Lackawanna College.

View of the David J. Wenzel Treehouse From Below

More Christmas Lights at Nay Aug Park

Penguin and Igloo Holiday Lights at Nay Aug

Nay Aug Park Christmas Lights

The Nay Aug Park Holiday Lights display begins at the entrance to the park where modulating arch lights give the illusion of a deer jumping over the road.  The entire exhibit can be enjoyed from inside your car as you drive through the park.  The display is free, but donations can be made at the end of the route as you leave Nay Aug Park.  According to the Scranton Times-Tribune up to 50,000 visitors will come to see the annual exhibit which this year remains open from Black Friday until approximately January 10th, 2011.

Happy Holidays Snowman

Know why the snowman looks so happy?   It was just after sunset and the temperature was already down to 28 degrees.    This fellow can be seen across the street from Nay Aug Park when exiting the Holiday Lights display.