A series of activities await anyone interested in learning about the sea and mermaid culture at the International Mermaid Festival — 1 South Arbor Rd, in Aberdeen — this weekend.
The festival, which goes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday through Sunday, April 14, is a free festival. Kim Roberts, co-owner of the Westport Winery Garden Resort and the International Mermaid Museum, is excited to see the guests come through and have a great time at the festival. The festival is for all ages. And there’s more.
“In addition to admission being free to the museum during the whole time,” Roberts said, “we have a lot of amazing entertainment, plus some really cool vendors.”
Since 2021, the festival has grown and “drawn people into unforgettable Grays Harbor County,” Roberts said.
The museum will be available to tour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the festival.
Attractions
For activities, the list is a a long one, which should keep people entertained all day.
• Una the Mermaid will be in her tank from 11 a.m. to noon, 1 to 2 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. throughout the festival
• Olive the Alchemist will be on the Mermaid Throne from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Mystik Menagerie will be shucking for pearls between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Sailing Siren will be fire dancing at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.
• Vertical Axis, an aerial acrobat team, will be on at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
• Pacific Northwest Unicorns, with Crystal, will happen from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Captain’s Daughter, a Celtic band, will play from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Gyotaku, also known as fish printing, will be available from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Sand dollar painting will be available from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
• Face-painting with Breeyn and Balloon art with Travis will takes place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Brianna Tibbetts, a young adults author, will be signing her mermaid book “Head over Tails” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In addition to all the fun that can be had at the festival, Roberts hopes people add to it by dressing up.
“Throughout the festival we encourage people who want to come dressed up as their favorite mythological creature, or what we called ‘Mersona,’ we welcome them,” Roberts said. “Mermaids, unicorns, all types are welcome here, in addition to grownups and children.”
There’ll also be a bit of pizzazz involved as two unicorns from the Pacific Northwest Unicorns will be on hand. The “beautiful white unicorns,” are named Sky and Blue. They’ll be there with their handler Crystal.
“Sky and Blue are here to have their photographs taken with our visitors and they are really magical,” Roberts said.
One of the activity highlights that Roberts mentioned was the aerial acrobats — Nick and Amanda — from Vertical Axis. The act comes from Seattle.
“They are some of the strongest, fittest, most lean people I have ever met,” Roberts said. “They work from a high tripod. … They will be doing performances throughout the day. They are on at 12:30 (p.m.), 1:30 (p.m.), and 2:30 (p.m.)”
In addition to all of the events, Mermaid Aura and Merman Mike will sell and sign their book “Mermaid: A Dream Made Real,” this Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They’ll also perform as “The Bad Little Space Mermaids” this Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m., inside the museum’s exhibition hall.
“The duo plays Celtic-themed folk music, woven with poetry and mythology on guitar and theremin,” according to the International Mermaid Museum’s website.
Beyond the events, there will be two arts and crafts tents, where guests can “look forward to meeting the creators in person as they shop woodworking, jewelry, knotwork, acrylic and watercolor paintings, jewelry, soaps, gifts, and a host of mixed media art,” the museum website states.
What to eat
And then there’s the food, which Roberts seemed excited to talk about.
“Karen and Ryan (Rowe) from Grays Harbor Wine Sellars will be here with Nice Nuts,” Roberts said of the popular candied nuts the couple sells.
Roberts added there will also be hot dogs, lemonade and kettle corn. Buddy Moo’s Ice Cream will be there as well.
“I just love ice cream, especially when you can wander around the gardens with an ice cream cone, or kettle corn,” Roberts said. “Also, we’ll have Smitty’s Mini Donuts and hot coffee.”
Along with all the family-friendly events, the Sea Glass Grill, which has won numerous awards, will be open. And guests 21-and-over can try the delicious spirits and wine from Westport Winery.
The schedule for the festival is on the museum’s website: www.mermaidmuseum.org.
“Families can plan to come first thing in the morning and be entertained all day,” Roberts said.
And as Roberts pointed out, it’s a rain or shine event. While hosting an event in April can be a little dicey with unpredictable weather, the festival has done well in the past — attracting visitors from every U.S. state, as well as 37 other countries, despite less than ideal conditions.
“Last year, it was raining sideways and all of these performers performed,” Roberts said about the event that saw more than 9,000 visitors come out. “According to the forecast, we have much better weather this year. Pacific Northwesterners are a hearty lot. If we were always waiting for the perfect weather, we might spend a lot of time waiting.”
Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.
International Mermaid Museum Una the Mermaid can’t wait to meet any and all people interested in mermaids. Una will be in her tank various times each day throughout the nine-day International Mermaid Museum Festival. The festival starts at 11 a.m., on Saturday and runs through Sunday afternoon, April 14.
International Mermaid Museum Standing with a sasquatch are Ryan Rowe, center, and Karen Rowe. The Rowe couple, selling their Nice Nuts, are one of the vendors you’ll meet at the nine-day International Mermaid Museum Festival. The festival has run since 2021, rain or shine. Last year it rained a lot and more than 9,000 people showed up through the festival’s run. This year, the forecast is showing better weather and Kim Roberts, who runs it, can’t wait to host people of all ages.
