Portlandia Mermaid Parade

About the Parade...

For 9 years, the Portlandia Mermaid Parade is and remains a FREE grassroots artistic event aimed at celebrating our community connection to Portland's rivers, port history as well as celebrating all things mermaid and water myth related.

The name 'Portlandia' is in honor of the river goddess sculpture created by Raymond Kaskey, currently located above the entrance of the Portland Building located in downtown PDX. Portlandia is the second-largest copper repousse' statue in the United States, after the Statue of Liberty.

The Portlandia Mermaid Parade is also intended to celebrate the living culture of professional mermaid entertainers now thriving in Oregon and through out the NW who help to bring the magic, mythology, of water myths to people everywhere.

The Portlandia Mermaid Parade also recognizes the increasing struggle for creatives in the region to express their artistic ventures without the negative impacts of gentrification, and other limits placed upon them, as a result of business/corporate elitism. The parade is a revitalization of Portland's long artistic energy, and an opportunity for creatives to have a more public forum for fantasy based self-expression.

Mission

The Portlandia Mermaid Parade is a secular, noncommercial, and non-specific political event. This means that there is no single cause or agenda that can represent the diversity of the participants in attendance. However individuals and groups are encouraged to amplify the general spirit of the event and its themes which include but are not limited to themes of: merfolk mythology, community building, environmental stewardship, egalitarianism, body positivity, and inclusivity.

As an artistic framework, the parade celebrates professional mermaids and merfolk enthusiasts of the region, in addition to local river history and oceanic myths, legends, symbology, and spirituality. Although this event is NOT a specific protest, it is an organized gathering intended help raise critical consciousness, showcase artistic expression, promote a paradigm shift, and foster cultural, gender, and body positivity, in addition to promoting environmental awareness.

How to Participate

The Portlandia Mermaid Parade is family and ADA friendly event. It is FREE to particpate. We highly encourage individuals to dress-up and join the parade. Registration is free and you can sign through the registration link found on the home page. Spectators may come see the parade anywhere along the parade route which starts at the Japanese Historical Plaza and makes it way down to Poet's Beach along the downtown Portland Waterfront.

Costumes & Tails

The Portlandia Mermaid Parade seeks to promote, and foster individual and group creativity. This is a body positive and gender neutral event, but it most definitely celebrates mermaids and water mythology. Costumes are a MUST, the more sparkly, beautiful, and outrageous the better! Each year a parade theme will be announced to help serve as a creative framework. Handmade or up cycled costumes are a super plus! Glam it up, think scales, body paint, shells, pearls, and all things whimsical! Walking tails for landlocked mermaids, and full swim tails for those who don't mind being carted around! Oceans the limit! Merfolk are often in walking tails or swimming tails. Push carts/floats, wagons, and sidewalk friendly mobility devices are also welcome! Other sea creatures and water beings are also welcome!

EVENT RULES & DISCLAIMERS

THE PORTLANDIA MERMAID PARADE AND FESTIVAL IS AN ACCOMPLICE IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

Physical, verbal, or virtual harassment is never tolerated or accepted.
Costumes do not equal consent! No touching other people or their costumes without consent.
No open drinking of alcohol or the consumption of any illegal substance during the parade or anytime while on public or private/business property
No bringing or carrying any weapons (costume props such as tritons, or staves are acceptable, water toys which do not look or appear like real guns are also ok)
Maintain an environment of peaceful civility and nonviolence towards other event participants, community members, and city/law officials if so encountered
Please adhere to all parade guide instructions, and follow parade march safety protocols. If you witness something which endangers safety or the community agreements of this event, please feel free to calmly help deescalate the situation, or ask a parade guide for assistance.
Unless there is an eminent threat to life and safety, the Portlandia Mermaid Parade & Festival will call upon park rangers, mental health and first aid responders first prior to calling or engaging with any police.
All rivers and garbage flow to the Ocean! As Merpeople we are mindful of carbon and environmental footprints, and seek to reduce this footprint when and wherever possible. Please help this event practice sustainable creativity by:
- Picking up trash and placing items in recycling bins or trash receptacles.
- If no trash or recycle bins are available, please pick up anyway and carry items with you until you are able to find some (pack-in, pack-out).
- Glittery costumes, and tails are often made from synthetic materials and often shed, leaving a messy trail behind. Please consider alternative costume materials, OR be sure to pick up your mermaid trail!
- Consider hand making, upcylcing or utilizing re-use materials for costumes and push floats.
- Keep in mind that all jewels, glitter, beads, plastic, tinsel, etc... pollute waters. If you plan on swimming at Poets Beach, please remove all potential water pollutants and contaminants first. The fishes will thank you :)

PERSONAL SAFTEY DISCLAIMER: All parade participants should know that while there are no expected instances of danger, personal risk, or injury, this IS a public event being held outdoors, so there is always a certain level of risk present. The First Annual Portlandia Parade and its associated organizers are not responsible for any physical or financial losses, or personal injuries, which may arise as a result of acts of nature, inclement weather, accident, terrorist attacks, or from other public behaviors in violation of community agreements and event rules.

SWIMMING DISCLAIMER: Any and all swimming at Poets Beach is an AT YOUR OWN RISK activity. The Portlandia Mermaid Parade is not responsible or held liable for any forms of losses or injuries as a result of public swimming. The Portlandia Mermaid Parade recommends that all swimmers, especially children wear appropropriate lifejackets. Individuals who are not competent swimmers should not attempt to swim in a professional mono fin/mermaid tail, and should know they are at increased safety risk, specifically in a natural body of water. Tying ones legs together and jumping in the water is NOT good mermaid safety, and is frowned upon by real mermaids :)

ON FLOATS: Vehicular floats, or motor assisted floats (not including disability personal assistance devices) are NOT permitted at this time. Smaller, hand push floats which easily fit within the size parameters of an average sidewalk width are ok, and encouraged. Any floats deemed too large or are determined to block sidewalk paths will not be permitted in the parade. If you have questions regarding specific float push float dimensions please inquire within.

ON VENDORS: Currently the framework for this event is just a parade. Vendors of any-kind who wish to sell goods, wares, or food must do so under their own license and permits in accordance with the City of Portland. The parade is not organizing or having any official vendors at this time, though this may be a possibility for future parade events.

ON ARTISTIC NUDITY: Those who elect to go bare breasted may want to consider the use of shells, pasties or body paint to help decrease the risk of law officials interpreting the toplessness as lewd. There are no Portland laws regarding toplessness. Indecency laws in Portland specifically refer to the revealing of genitalia for the purposes of causing sexual arousal, or in matters of public sexual acts. Bare breasts have often not been interpreted as genitalia, but people should be aware that the matter is somewhat left to personal interpretation of law officials. Anyone ticketed or cited as a result of accused lewdness or indecency have been for-warned, and so the First Annual Mermaid Parade supports the freedom of artistic expression. However, the event and its associated organizers are not responsible for any fines or consequences that may arise as a result of people electing to express this freedom.

ON PETS: Portland is a town of animal lovers. However large public events such as parades are not always pet friendly spaces. There can be loud noises, large crowds, and the summer heat can burn and dehydrate pets quickly. Please use discretion if you decide to bring a furry companion to the parade, and be sure to follow all leash and scooping ordinances in accordance with Portland Public Parks. If you do decide to bring a pet or service animal, please help ensure their safety and well-being and the safety, and well-being of others. This is a family friendly event, so if your pet does not like other people or children, this is probably NOT the event to bring them to.

ON SMOKING: Please help us maintain a happy and healthy event environment for all. The Portlandia Mermaid Parade asks smokers to refrain from smoking any substance during the parade as to limit the discomfort and harms associated with second hand smoke. Since the parade occurs at a large public park space, please be mindful, and simply take your smoke break aside from the crowds. Please be sure to also put cigarette butts in proper ashtrays to reduced pollution and fire. Thank You!

ON SELF-CARE: Please bring sunscreen, drinking water, hat, sunglasses, and snacks for self care. This event will be happening mid-summer, and heat stroke is a reality.

Keeping Portland Weird & Magical!

The Portlandia Mermaid Parade & Festival is a proud member and supporter of Weird Portland United (WPU)! Weird Portland United celebrates Portland's unique innovative culture, and amplifies creative expression, and incubates an even weirder future. WPU envisions a Portland devoid of barriers where citizens feel free to take risks, find success through living to their full creative potential, and take pride in their unique way of doing things.Weird Portland United discovers, promotes and nurtures the dreamers, creators, risk-takers that Keep Portland Weird. In the face of rapid change we protect and lead Portland’s culture so that all Portlanders, from natives to newcomers, can contribute to our city’s now famous culture of weird.

For more information on Weird Portland United please visit their website:
www.weirdportlandunited.org/about/