THOUSANDS OF TURTLE FANS ATTEND SIXTH ANNUAL TURTLEFEST AT LOGGERHEAD MARINELIFE CENTER

New Record SET as $30,000 WAS raised for the sea turtle rehabilitation facility

Loggerhead Marinelife Center held the hugely popular family - Turtlefest on Saturday April 19. The event was attended by thousands of fans who came out to celebrate everything turtle, plus great food, drinks, entertainment and children's activities. The Sixth Annual event was bigger and better this year as the event took place in the new 12,000 square foot Center and the Loggerhead park grounds adjacent to the Center.

This free family event, chaired by Kay Tennant, raised over $30,000 through donations, a raffle, silent auction and merchandise and food and beverage sales. The amount is the largest raised over the six year history; proceeds from the event will benefit sea turtle rehabilitation programs and overall programming costs at the center.

The expanded activities at this year's event included the Little Loggerhead area which included recycled and marine themed arts and crafts, interactive games, batting cages by the Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals and a marine themed playground. Numerous sea turtle patients were available for viewing by the over 15,000 who attended the event.

The Anchor Bank Stage featured several local youth performers from ArtStage, Duncan Middle School Choir, and Atlantic Dance Theatre Company and Oceans II a local folk/rock duo. Those wishing to take home a turtle treasure shopped in the marine themed gift shop which included turtle souvenirs and the commemorative Turtlefest poster and t-shirts.

Turtlefest was a completely free event with the help from the following corporate sponsors: Anchor Commercial Bank, Bright Ideas, FPL, The Palm Beach Post, Kool 105.5, Burkey Risk Services, Continental Catering, Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center operates a sea turtle rehabilitation program, and features aquariums and other marine exhibits and is located at 14200 US Highway One in Juno Beach. For more information visit www.marinelife.org or call 561-627-8280.