Seal Day, the annual celebration at the Marine Mammal Care Center to honor the creatures the organization helps heal and rehabilitate, drew in-person crowds again on Saturday, July 31.
It was a return to form for the popular community fete, after the coronavirus pandemic forced the event to go virtual last year.
Visitors enjoyed live music and food trucks, and gathered information at several booths designed to educate folks on ocean pollution and sea life. But the stars of the day, as usual at the center, were the seals and sea lions — with guests getting to watch feedings.
The center, in Angel’s Gate Park, was established in 1992. Since then, it has rescued and treated more than 8,000 animals stranded on Southern California beaches.
The facility began taking in limited numbers of the public in April. Seal Day guests had to wear face masks and make reservations in advance, so the center could keep crowd numbers modest.