Submitted by Westport Winery
The International Mermaid Museum is holding its annual Mermaid Festival from Saturday, March 26 through Sunday, April 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. During this weeklong event there is no charge for admission to the museum located halfway between Westport and Aberdeen at Westport Winery Garden Resort. March 29 is International Mermaid Day.
In addition to the museum’s educational and enchanting exhibits there are a series of special attractions for visitors of all ages during this celebration of the sea. It is guaranteed during the festival that there will be siren sightings as mermaids swim to Unforgettable Grays Harbor. Mermaids can enter to win a trip to Grays Harbor at the Mermaid Museum website and everyone can vote there for their favorite mermaid. The winner will be announced on March 21 by NY Times best-selling author Tessa Bailey.
Una the Mermaid will be performing underwater in her traveling tank on both Saturdays and Sundays. Since 2012, Una is the organizer and host of the annual Portlandia Mermaid Parade where mermaid museum founder Kim Roberts was named Mermazing Person of the Year in 2021.
Olive the Alchemist, founder of the Seattle Mermaid School, will preside on the mermaid throne every day of the festival from 11am to 5pm. Each day at 5pm she will teach a free hour-long class for aspiring mermaids of all ages that covers the topics of immersion, believability, mermaid physicality, and performer safety.
The first weekend, Saturday and Sunday, March 26 and 27, the Seattle Mermaid Pod will be on hand with crafts and entertainment.
In the art tent, guests can look forward to work by glass artists Kari and Heather Wulf of Moclips (Kari is also raffling one of her pieces during the show), photographer Wendy Ryan of Grayland, multi-media artist Pamela McKinnie of Olympia, mermaid artist Ashley Morgan of Tacoma, watercolorist Aleatha Kennedy of Olympia, rock painter Brandi Fornear of Westport, ceramicist Kimmi Kerns of Shelton, photographer Michelle Rayleen of Sekiu, woodworkers Pete and Amy Twigg of Ocosta, jeweler Ruth Greening of Olympia, and watercolorist Nancy Broach.
All day, every day, kids can participate in a Pirate’s Treasure Hunt in the gardens surrounding the museum with prizes for those who complete the puzzle and find the treasure.
For the kids, there is a free gyotaku (fish printing) station every day from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For all ages there is a free rock painting station every day.
Inside the museum there is a fee for guests who want to mine fossils, shells or gems in the museum’s sluice box.
Jill Neal, famous for her Wild Women art, will be signing and selling her creations in person on April 1 and 2.
Rebecca Corio will be signing and selling her book “Storm of Passion” from her Men of Danger series on April 2 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Members of the Portland Mermaid Pod’s Traveling Fanta Sea Cove will host a booth on April 2 and 3. It will center on merfolk mythology from around the world, and merfolk deities. They will also sell handmade mer wares and crafts.
On Saturday, April 2, at 5 p.m. the Bad Little Mermaids will host a free performance featuring Aura the Mermaid playing the theremin and Merman Mike on the guitar. This event is suitable for all ages.
Westport’s Aloha Alabama is bringing their festival food mobile for the week with their famous poke and teriyaki bowls plus delicious shave ice. Lumberjack Popcorn Company will be at the festival both weekends with their incredible kettle corn selection.
The International Mermaid Museum is a registered 501(C)3 non-profit dedicated to teaching ocean ecology from seashore to sea floor immersed in mermaid mythology uniting world oceanic cultures. The International Mermaid Museum is located on the grounds of Westport Winery Garden Resort, halfway between Aberdeen and Westport on the Washington Coast. For more information go to the Mermaid Museum website.
