A Decade of Magic:
2025 Marks 10 Years of the Portlandia Mermaid Parade
This year’s Portlandia Mermaid Parade is more than just a splash—it's a tsunami of celebration! As we mark our 10th anniversary, we invite you to join us for a truly unforgettable opening ceremony honoring a decade of mermaid magic, river reverence, and creative community spirit.
We’ll kick things off with special live performances, a tribute to our past Grand Marshals, and the unveiling of a commemorative Merfolk Time Capsule. Visit our interactive Memory Wall to reflect on the tides of change, community moments, and cherished parade snapshots. And of course, we’ve got a few glittery surprises waiting in the waves!
Let’s celebrate ten years of magic, mythology and belonging together—because you are part of what makes this shellabration so special!
Scroll on for more info!
We’ll kick things off with special live performances, a tribute to our past Grand Marshals, and the unveiling of a commemorative Merfolk Time Capsule. Visit our interactive Memory Wall to reflect on the tides of change, community moments, and cherished parade snapshots. And of course, we’ve got a few glittery surprises waiting in the waves!
Let’s celebrate ten years of magic, mythology and belonging together—because you are part of what makes this shellabration so special!
Scroll on for more info!
2025 Mermaid Festival Events
Three days of mer-mazing events, now all on one weekend!
DAY 1: The Sirens Ball- Friday July 25th (8pm-12pm) @ FATHOM
Located at: 520 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97204
The Sirens Ball is a darkly elegant, ocean-themed costume gala celebrating the mystique of the sea’s most enchanting legends. Held within FATHOM’s immersive undersea dreamscape, this 18+ event features ethereal music, interactive art, otherworldly performances, and deep-sea decadence. Dress to dazzle—this is mermaids after dark.
Located at: 520 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97204
The Sirens Ball is a darkly elegant, ocean-themed costume gala celebrating the mystique of the sea’s most enchanting legends. Held within FATHOM’s immersive undersea dreamscape, this 18+ event features ethereal music, interactive art, otherworldly performances, and deep-sea decadence. Dress to dazzle—this is mermaids after dark.
DAY 2: The Portlandia Mermaid Parade- Saturday July 26th (12noon-4pm)
Begins @ Japanese Historical Plaza, Downtown Waterfront
The Portlandia Mermaid Parade is a FREE whimsical, all-ages promenade celebrating water, creativity, and community. Merfolk, sea creatures, and ocean allies of all kinds march through Portland in a joyful tide of color, costumes, and music. It’s a splashy celebration of imagination and water stewardship for all who love the sea!
Register for free at the top of the page. Look below for more parade details.
Begins @ Japanese Historical Plaza, Downtown Waterfront
The Portlandia Mermaid Parade is a FREE whimsical, all-ages promenade celebrating water, creativity, and community. Merfolk, sea creatures, and ocean allies of all kinds march through Portland in a joyful tide of color, costumes, and music. It’s a splashy celebration of imagination and water stewardship for all who love the sea!
Register for free at the top of the page. Look below for more parade details.
DAY 3: The PNW Mermaid Confluence- Sunday July 27th (10pm-4pm)
@ Sherwood Regional Family YMCA 23000 SW Pacific Hwy Sherwood Oregon 97140
The PNW Mermaid Confluence is a joyful, family-friendly gathering of merfolk, ocean lovers, and aquatic artists from across the region. Featuring swimming, vendors, workshops, photo ops, and community building. The Confluence celebrates the magic of mermaiding in a supportive and inclusive space. Tails encouraged—splashing guaranteed!
Click to the confluence info page on this website for more event details!
@ Sherwood Regional Family YMCA 23000 SW Pacific Hwy Sherwood Oregon 97140
The PNW Mermaid Confluence is a joyful, family-friendly gathering of merfolk, ocean lovers, and aquatic artists from across the region. Featuring swimming, vendors, workshops, photo ops, and community building. The Confluence celebrates the magic of mermaiding in a supportive and inclusive space. Tails encouraged—splashing guaranteed!
Click to the confluence info page on this website for more event details!
Parade Location & Route
Gather @ Japanese Historical Plaza along Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Located between NW Davis and Burnside along the downtown waterfront.
Located between NW Davis and Burnside along the downtown waterfront.
Parade Event Schedule
12 noon Opening Ceremony Begins
1:00/1:30pm Parade Line Up Starts
1:00pm-1:45pm Parade Procession in Progress
2:00pm Group Photo on Poets Beach
2:00pm-4:00pm Beach Hangout, Memory Wall, and Other Suprises!
4pm and Later- FATHOM
1:00/1:30pm Parade Line Up Starts
1:00pm-1:45pm Parade Procession in Progress
2:00pm Group Photo on Poets Beach
2:00pm-4:00pm Beach Hangout, Memory Wall, and Other Suprises!
4pm and Later- FATHOM
Parade Route
The parade route will take approx. 30-45 minutes depending on the size of our group. We will launch from the Japanese Historical Plaza and casually make our way down the waterfront to Poets Beach! The route is along flat sidewalks, no streets, and is ADA friendly. Individuals utilizing mobility devices may need assistance getting on to the beach. There is a paved pathway that leads down to the sand.
Become a Vendor
The Portlandia Mermaid Parade is accepting a limited number of vendors.
The following restrictions apply :
PLEASE GO TO APPLICATION LINK FOR MORE DETAILS:
The following restrictions apply :
- Vendors may only have a single 6 X 4 ft table only, (NO pop-ups!)
- Vending Time is from 2pm-4pm.
- Vendors must supply their own table and chairs.
- No power or wifi
- We are a leave no trace event
- Ocean, water, mermaid themed wares or items only
- Handmade items preferred
- Trinket Trading welcome
PLEASE GO TO APPLICATION LINK FOR MORE DETAILS:
🧜♀️ What Is a Mer-Ambassador?
A Mer-Ambassador is more than a costume or a crown—they are a heart-forward representative of the merfolk community who uplifts others, celebrates diversity, and advocates for inclusion, creativity, and water stewardship.
This honorary title is awarded to young people (ages 8–19) in the Pacific Northwest who embody the spirit of the sea through compassion, imagination, and a desire to make waves of positive change.
Whether you're an experienced mer or simply dreaming of becoming one, Mer-Ambassadors are chosen not for how they swim—but for how they shine.
This honorary title is awarded to young people (ages 8–19) in the Pacific Northwest who embody the spirit of the sea through compassion, imagination, and a desire to make waves of positive change.
Whether you're an experienced mer or simply dreaming of becoming one, Mer-Ambassadors are chosen not for how they swim—but for how they shine.
🌊 Why Become a Mer-Ambassador?
- Be part of a beloved and inclusive tradition at the Portlandia Mermaid Parade
- Share your voice, story, and creativity with a wider community
- Receive merfolk-themed prizes, event access, and on-stage recognition
- Make meaningful connections and grow as a youth leader in ocean and water advocacy
How to Qualify
🐚 Contest Qualifications – Youth Mer-Ambassador Contest
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Age Requirement: Open to youth ages 8–19.
- First-Time Winners Only: Applicants must not have previously won a Mer-Ambassadorship.
- Previous applicants who did not win are welcome to re-apply!
- Submission Requirement: Applicants must complete the official application form and submit either a qualifying essay (300–500 words) or video (3–5 minutes) in response to the contest theme of the year.
- Parental Consent: Applicants under 18 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian.
- Required Forms: All applicants must submit a signed media release and liability waiver.
- Experience Not Required: No prior mermaid experience is necessary.
In fact, we especially encourage submissions from aspiring merfolk who dream of joining the mer-community! - Residency: Applicants must live in the Pacific Northwest region.
- Attendance Required: Selected winners must be present at the
Portlandia Mermaid Parade on Saturday, July 26th, 2025,
to be crowned during the Opening Ceremony.- If the selected winner cannot attend in person, the title and prize will be awarded to the runner-up in their age category.
Previous Mer-Ambassador Winners
2023
Una Vivienne
Jaspur Weems
Suzanne Larrison
Chloe Wilson
2024
Luke Lyman
River Frisbee
Emory O'Keefe
Una Vivienne
Jaspur Weems
Suzanne Larrison
Chloe Wilson
2024
Luke Lyman
River Frisbee
Emory O'Keefe
🌊 A Special Message from the Portlandia Mermaid Parade & Festival 🌊
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In the shimmering current of celebration, we gather not just in costume, but in community. The Portlandia Mermaid Parade and Festival is more than a spectacle, it is a sanctuary of joy, imagination, and belonging for everybody and every-body.
We affirm, without hesitation or condition, that all people—of every race, class, ethnicity, gender, orientation, citizen status, ability, age, and body type, deserve to be seen, celebrated, and treated with dignity. This is not a passing ideal; it is the deep tide that shapes our festival’s very soul. As waves of division and intolerance rise across the nation, we stand firm in our values. The magic we create is rooted in radical inclusion. We do not shy away from the storm, we rise through it, together, with scales gleaming and hearts open. We are not afraid to swim the currents of resistance against hate, and rivers of hope flowing toward a more compassionate world. We believe civil treatment is a basic right, not a reward. Respect is not conditional on who you are, how you look, whom you love, or where you come from. At this festival, you are welcome exactly as you are, whether you come ashore in sequins, wheels, heels, fins, or bare feet. To all who enter this magical space: may you feel held, may you feel honored, may you feel free. Together, we enchant a better world into being, one glittering moment at a time. With love & Solidarity, The Portlandia Mermaid Parade & Festival |
Merfolk & Social Justice
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At the confluence of myth and movement, the Portlandia Mermaid Parade & Festival rises in celebration and resistance. We honor the magic of merfolk not only as fantasy, but as a mirror reflecting the truths of our world and the possibilities for what it might become.
We openly and unequivocally support the pursuit of racial equity and justice. We envision a future rooted in restorative values, where public safety means care, not control—healing, not harm. We call for an end to institutional violence, white supremacy, and the continued killing of Black citizens. Black Lives Matter, period.
The wisdom of the merfolk is ancient, and it flows from deep waters of consciousness. Across cultures and centuries, Black and African mermaid myths have thrived—from Mami Wata and Yemoja to the powerful sea spirits of the African diaspora. These stories are not new; they are eternal. Yet colonial narratives have long tried to bleach the seas of their richness, narrowing our imaginations to one dominant image: the thin, white, cisgender mermaid.
But the ocean does not consent to such limitations.
Here on land, there is much work to do. Racism is not just a distant storm—it is present in our communities, our conversations, and our silences. The mermaid world is no exception. Subcultures, no matter how whimsical or well-meaning, can replicate the same social ills as the broader society—becoming microcosms of exclusion, privilege, and harm.
Too often, people view racism only as overt violence—failing to see how implicit bias, microaggressions, and systems of power operate quietly and insidiously in everyday life. This denial halts progress. To dismantle racism, we must turn inward. We must confront the ways white supremacy has conditioned our thoughts, spaces, and identities—even when unintentional. This requires vulnerability, accountability, and a willingness to be uncomfortable. At the Portlandia Mermaid Parade, we choose to be uncomfortable if it means moving closer to justice. We reject the silence that protects power. We reject the fear that silences truth. We reject the idea that neutrality is an option. Those who would withdraw their support because we speak these truths are not aligned with our mission or our values.
White silence is violence.
Black mermaids matter.
Black and brown lives matter.
This is not politics—this is humanity. This is democracy. This is love.
Let it be known: we do not swim in shallow waters. We dive deep, we listen, we unlearn, and we rise. The sea is vast, and there is room for all of us in its story.
We openly and unequivocally support the pursuit of racial equity and justice. We envision a future rooted in restorative values, where public safety means care, not control—healing, not harm. We call for an end to institutional violence, white supremacy, and the continued killing of Black citizens. Black Lives Matter, period.
The wisdom of the merfolk is ancient, and it flows from deep waters of consciousness. Across cultures and centuries, Black and African mermaid myths have thrived—from Mami Wata and Yemoja to the powerful sea spirits of the African diaspora. These stories are not new; they are eternal. Yet colonial narratives have long tried to bleach the seas of their richness, narrowing our imaginations to one dominant image: the thin, white, cisgender mermaid.
But the ocean does not consent to such limitations.
Here on land, there is much work to do. Racism is not just a distant storm—it is present in our communities, our conversations, and our silences. The mermaid world is no exception. Subcultures, no matter how whimsical or well-meaning, can replicate the same social ills as the broader society—becoming microcosms of exclusion, privilege, and harm.
Too often, people view racism only as overt violence—failing to see how implicit bias, microaggressions, and systems of power operate quietly and insidiously in everyday life. This denial halts progress. To dismantle racism, we must turn inward. We must confront the ways white supremacy has conditioned our thoughts, spaces, and identities—even when unintentional. This requires vulnerability, accountability, and a willingness to be uncomfortable. At the Portlandia Mermaid Parade, we choose to be uncomfortable if it means moving closer to justice. We reject the silence that protects power. We reject the fear that silences truth. We reject the idea that neutrality is an option. Those who would withdraw their support because we speak these truths are not aligned with our mission or our values.
White silence is violence.
Black mermaids matter.
Black and brown lives matter.
This is not politics—this is humanity. This is democracy. This is love.
Let it be known: we do not swim in shallow waters. We dive deep, we listen, we unlearn, and we rise. The sea is vast, and there is room for all of us in its story.
Black Mermaid Book List
Mermaids Have Always Been Black
A relief sculpture of the goddess Mami Wata on the wall of a voodoo temple in Benin.
NEW YORK TIMES- Opinion July 10th 2019
Mermaids Have Always Been Black
By Tracy Baptiste
As a young child growing up in Trinidad and Tobago within sight and walking distance of the Caribbean Sea, I was gripped by the intrigue of mermaids. I was introduced to one version of a mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, whose tale of a magical girl creature, an impossible location and an outrageous desire was thrilling.
But I already knew mermaids. We spent most weekends on the beach. There were plenty about. Every cousin, aunt and uncle who threw me in the waves and laugh-shouted at me to swim back to shore seemed to know that we were all part of the sea.
My father, in particular, was a surrogate Poseidon. He would strike out into open water, disappearing for minutes at a time behind huge waves, then appear again, hanging off the side of a fishing boat, where he rested, chatted with the fishermen and then swam back to shore. I didn’t need a Danish fairy tale to tell me that he was part fish. By the time I came across Andersen’s tale, I already knew that mermaids were black and brown people: my family. Besides, what happens when you stay out on the sea? You get darker and darker, deepening to shades of black and brown that glow from absorbing the sun.
It was in this state last week that I first heard about Disney’s decision to cast the black teenage actress and singer Halle Bailey (of Chloe x Halle fame) in the title role for “The Little Mermaid,” and the flood of white people’s tears over it. When the announcement was made, I was swimming in the sea off the Bahamas, getting sunburned as fish swam past me. A lifeguard had just warned me that there were baby sharks about. Was I concerned? Honey, please. This was my natural state.
Back in my hotel room, I turned on my phone for a bit, and several notifications came in, people tagging me in social media posts. The Wi-Fi was spotty, so it was another day or so before I figured out what was going on. I laughed. It was so laughable, this idea that a mermaid couldn’t be black. Didn’t they know?
When I wrote Mama D’Leau into my series of middle grade novels, The Jumbies, I didn’t have to stretch my imagination very far from home. Aiming at kids who don’t know Caribbean folklore, and Caribbean parents who maybe had forgotten it, I reimagined supernatural creatures I had known since I was a child.
Mama D’Leau in the oral tradition was huge and hideous, fierce and unstoppable. She ruled the water, both river and sea alike, and reveled in upturning fishing boats by whipping her powerful anaconda tail and watching her victims drown in the blue. As a young feminist, I was delighted by the idea of such a powerful and free woman, the murder notwithstanding. In my story, I made her as beautiful and well coifed as any of my aunts, and just as fearsome as the stories — or again, any of the aunties.
Mama D’Leau always existed in my imagination. I worried when my father swam out so far that I couldn’t see him, and worried again that the creature would capsize the boat he was hanging on to before he could swim back. In the stories, Mama D’Leau never cared whom she killed. It was sport. Though, same as any fisherman, I suppose. I don’t remember when I figured out that this was only a story.
The story likely started during chattel slavery, when people were kidnapped from the west coast of Africa and brought to the Caribbean and the Americas. The mother of the sea came with them because she already existed in West Africa as Mami Wata, a deity who promised fertility and prosperity to her devotees. It was incredibly good luck to encounter her in person. In West Africa, the goddess was beautiful, sometimes appearing fully as a woman, sometimes as a woman with a fish tail, sometimes with two fish tails. Check your Starbucks cup to see how she’s been co-opted.
LINK TO ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/07/16/the-black-mermaid-booklist/?fbclid=IwAR3JROEJ1O23zjASY0ynSrW0c5qlJ4r0SRgmYmLSVCuihVo7bwUCHja6WRw
MORE ARTICLES:
ourtimepress.com/discovering-the-myth-and-folklore-of-black-mermaids/
https://www.tor.com/2021/11/09/black-mermaids-the-waters-beyond-eurocentric-mythology/
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/black-mermaids-ariel-history
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2022/09/30/black-mermaids-the-little-disney
https://manyheadedmonster.com/2022/11/28/black-mermaids-and-the-long-legacy-of-eighteenth-century-racism/
ourtimepress.com/discovering-the-myth-and-folklore-of-black-mermaids/
https://www.tor.com/2021/11/09/black-mermaids-the-waters-beyond-eurocentric-mythology/
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/black-mermaids-ariel-history
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2022/09/30/black-mermaids-the-little-disney
https://manyheadedmonster.com/2022/11/28/black-mermaids-and-the-long-legacy-of-eighteenth-century-racism/
Merfolk are here, and many of us are Queer!
Here are some Queer friendly merfolk tales, and resources:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/queer-merfolk
https://abitlit.co/history/sacha-coward-on-queer-history-museums-and-mermaids/
https://arsenalpulp.com/Books/I/I-ve-Heard-the-Mermaids-Singing
https://pankmagazine.com/piece/mermaids/
http://queercomicsdatabase.com/series/thirsty-mermaids/
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/the-little-mermaid-lgbtq-fans-ursula_uk_5dce8608e4b0d2e79f8adb51
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/queer-merfolk
https://abitlit.co/history/sacha-coward-on-queer-history-museums-and-mermaids/
https://arsenalpulp.com/Books/I/I-ve-Heard-the-Mermaids-Singing
https://pankmagazine.com/piece/mermaids/
http://queercomicsdatabase.com/series/thirsty-mermaids/
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/the-little-mermaid-lgbtq-fans-ursula_uk_5dce8608e4b0d2e79f8adb51
Have a question? Please reach out!