The incredibly popular Mermaid Festival invites visitors every weekend in April.

As always, this fin-tastic, free and family-friendly event is held at Westport Winery Garden Resort, home of the International Mermaid Museum. Even museum admission is free during the festival as each Saturday and Sunday (April 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27) boasts a fleet of world-class entertainers along with talented local artists and tempting treat purveyors.

The festival sparkles with a series of special attractions for visitors of all ages during this celebration of the sea. In addition to the museum’s enchanting educational exhibits, everyone will enjoy meeting a school of mermaids from around the region along with other mythical creatures throughout the museum, gardens, and tents.

Special festival performers include the Northwest’s most famous mermaid, Una in her tank, Siren Circe will preside on the mermaid throne in the museum, Vertical Axis aerial acrobats Nick Perry and Amanda Thornton will electrify the sky while suspended from a 20-foot tower, Rachel Novak, the Sailing Siren, will thrill guests with fire dancing, and the enchanting Pacific Northwest Unicorns are eager to have their photos taken with their fans.

In addition to the Mermaid Festival dates, unicorns Sky and Blue will be at Westport Winery Garden Resort on National Unicorn Day, Wednesday, April 9, from 3 to 5 p.m. where Blue will offer Unicorn rides. Unicorn Sky will remain in the petting corral for those who don’t want to buy a ride on Blue. The riding opportunity is limited to children who weigh less than 100 pounds.

Mermaids from around the Northwest will share their culture and love of the sea throughout the festival. The Ono Wahine Mermaid School will detail what it takes to become a professionally certified mermaid. Members of the Mystic Menagerie, the South Sound Pod, the Emerald Sea Sirens, the Cascadia Pod, the Whidbey Island Sirens Pod, the Shadowscale Squad, the Mutiny Mermaid Pod and Portland’s Mermaid Cove, will host a variety of events and entertainment during this incredible celebration of all thing’s mermaid.

As part of the festival, the museum will host a costume contest on April 20 (Easter Sunday) at 1 p.m. All visitors are invited to don their finest costumes whether they are mermaids, pirates, other mythical creatures or Easter bunnies, with adult and children’s categories. Every contestant will receive an enchanted Easter egg. Winners are awarded a pirate chest filled with ocean treasures.

In many arts and crafts tents in the 15-acre display garden, guests can meet the creators in person as they shop woodworking, jewelry, knotwork, acrylic and watercolor paintings, jewelry, soaps, candles and gifts.

Mixed media artists offer fantastical face painting and hilarious balloon animals while LaNae weaves shimmering mermaid hair, Westport Bubble Works creates interactive fun and Lighthouse Wellness offers massages.

The Master Gardeners will host a free plant clinic and tool sharpening each Saturday. Festival attendees can enjoy a variety of delicious delicacies including mini donuts, cotton candy, ice cream, coffee, burgers, hot dogs, roasted nuts and lemonade.

Each day in the museum kids are invited to join a Pirate’s Treasure Hunt with prizes for those who complete the puzzle and find the treasure.

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.

Located on the grounds of Westport Winery Garden Resort, halfway between Aberdeen and Westport on the Washington coast in Unforgettable Grays Harbor County, the museum is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. year around. For more information go to www.MermaidMuseum.org.

Rachel Novak, the Sailing Siren

Vertical Axis aerial acrobats Nick Perry and Amanda Thornton