From Folklore to Festival: Mermaid Museum Event Expands
Washington State is known for music, coffee, boating, aviation, museums, and mythical creatures. But did you know they have an entire museum dedicated to a unique mythical, sea-dwelling creature often depicted as having the upper body of a woman and the tail of a fish? This creature appears in folklore and stories across various cultures. It even is part of a famous Seattle coffee brand. If you haven’t guessed by now, it is the International Mermaid Museum located halfway between Aberdeen and Westport.
The International Mermaid Museum is dedicated to teaching ocean ecology from the seashore to the sea floor. Immersed in mermaid mythology, the museum unites oceanic cultures. It is a fun way for people of all ages and abilities to learn about the sea as a living environment, the benefits of clean oceans, and the reality of ocean exploration.
The museum embraces its underwater culture and hosts a variety of eclectic features, including crab pot chandeliers, a shell of a sunken ship with tattered sails and treasure chests, a throne and theater with mermaid movie clips, and a gift shop with mermaid—and pirate-centric products. Also, outside, you will find gardens containing sculptures and artwork by local artists.
The museum neighbors Westport Winery Garden Resort, Ocean’s Daughter Distillery, and the Sea Glass Grill. While the museum is a fun, educational experience, it is more enchanting during the Annual Mermaid Festival.
Mermaid Festival Expands to Every Weekend in April 2025
The beloved Mermaid Festival is making waves in 2025 with a month-long celebration of sea-themed magic. For the first time ever, the event will occur every weekend in April—April 5–6, 12–13, 19–20, and 26–27—from 11 am to 4 pm daily. Admission to both the festival and museum is entirely free.
This family-friendly event welcomes visitors into an immersive world filled with live mermaids, mythical creatures, world-class performers, and hands-on activities. The 15-acre garden resort will be brimming with artists, entertainers, and gourmet vendors throughout the month.
Festival Highlights:
- Una the Mermaid, founder of the Portland Mermaid Parade, will perform underwater three times daily.
- Siren Circe greets guests from the Mermaid Throne alongside Pirate Cliff and the popular pearl-finding experience.
- Aerialists Nick Perry & Amanda Thornton of Vertical Axis will perform sky-high acrobatics daily at 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm.
- Rachel, the Sailing Siren, fire entertainer, and freediver, performs four times daily with her high-energy act.
- Unicorns Sky and Blue, with handler Crystal, are available for magical meet-and-greets and photo ops.
Special Appearances:
- Author Brianna Tibbets will sign her mermaid-themed books, Head Over Tails, and The Knight in Battered Armor, on three weekends.
- Author Rebecca Enzor will appear April 5–6 to sign her mer-culture novels See the Depths and Speak the Ocean.
- The Mystik Menagerie returns with rock and pearl jewelry, custom airbrush apparel, and photo opportunities with Siren Cerulia and Pirate Athena.
On Sunday, April 20, the festival will host a costume contest at 1 pm with categories for adults and children. All participants receive a magical Easter egg; winners take treasure-filled pirate chests home.
Festivalgoers can shop handcrafted goods, from woodworking to watercolor art, and enjoy face painting, balloon animals, fish printing, a Pirate Treasure Hunt, and shimmering mermaid hair styling.
Local food vendors will offer a variety of treats, including Smitty’s Mini Donuts, Buddy Moo’s Ice Cream, cotton candy from Habitat for Humanity, and Kona Ice—alongside the resort’s award-winning Sea Glass Grill.
Whether you are interested in mer-culture or ocean ecology, the International Mermaid Museum and Mermaid Festival is for people of all ages.
