If you thought you saw more than one Santa on Saturday, you weren't just seeing double...or even triple. You were seeing 1,200 Santas who swarmed the Strand between Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach on Saturday morning for the California Great Santa Stroll benefiting Mychal's Learning Place.

The Santa Stroll, a 5K fun run/walk, was inspired by a world competition to set the record for the most Santas gathered in one place at the same time. Although the current record is 18,000 Santas, set in India in 2014, this year's 1,200 participants was the largest number to date for the local event.

Saturday's event drew runners of all ages as well as babies in strollers and dogs on leashes and wagons. Mychal's Learning Place participants got the event off to a jolly start with their rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." 

LA Kings mascot Bailey and LA Rams mascot Rampage were also on hand to warm up the crowd.

The event raised funds for Mychal's Learning Place, a local nonprofit providing programs for youth and young adults with developmental disabilities as they strive to live a more independent life. Participants paid an entry fee and were given a Santa suit or child's t-shirt with their registration. At press time, the fundraiser was closing in on its goal of raising $175,000.

The three top fundraisers were Kinecta, Team Air New Zealand, and the Valenzuela Family Team.

"It's a lot of fun, but really what we're doing is we're bringing funds together so that we can keep all of the really important programs that happen at Mychal's Learning Place continue on an annual basis," said Mychal's Learning Place board member Nancy Vrankovic.

"There's so much more work that needs to be done for our population and I thank you for being a part of that," Ed Lynch, Mychal's Place founder told the gathered Santas.

See the full photo gallery below and see our Instagram reel here.