Mermaid parade to make splash in San Marcos

Dozens of freshwater mermaids have completed their annual migration toward the crystal clear waters of the San Marcos River.

The mermaids' official arrival, which begins early Saturday morning, can mean only one thing for the community of San Marcos: The 4th Annual Mermaid SPLASH Festival is here.

“On Saturday you will be able to look down at the river and see several dozen mermaids swimming in the San Marcos River,” said July Moreno, founder of the Mermaid Society of Texas. “Some of the mermaids are traveling from Florida, Houston and Galveston. It's hard to predict how many we will have here. It’s always a beautiful sight.”

One of the highlights of the Mermaid SPLASH Festival kicks off Saturday at 10 a.m. with the Downtown Mermaid Promenade. Moreno said the promenade is a New Orleans Mardi Gras-style parade that stretches across downtown, complete with floats, marchers, dancers, music and, of course, mermaids.

Immediately following the parade is the Mermaid Aqua Faire at San Marcos Plaza Park. There, festival goers can enjoy and purchase local art, listen to live music, dine at an array of food trucks and more until 6 p.m.

The Mermaid Aqua Faire will center around its Eco Village of river experts, which is designed to educate the community on river preservation and sustainability. The Mermaid Society of Texas is the host of the festival, which was founded to promote those environmental causes. 

Moreno said one concern original San Marcos residents have is the possibility of river pollution as the area continues its rapid population growth.

“The festival is all about strengthening the connection in the community, creating more opportunities for collaborations and preserving our beautiful San Marcos River,” Moreno said. “This will be a way to connect and balance our town at a time when it is changing rapidly.”

The 15-day festival will continue with special events in the area until the Mermaid Round Up on Sept. 29, which is an annual community river cleanup.

In order for the plethora of San Marcos newcomers to truly appreciate the festival and all of its quirky charm, they first need to grasp the area’s unique history with mermaids, Moreno said. Or, as they were originally known, aquamaids.

While folklore tends to focus on mermaids who live in salty seas, emerging from the depths to seduce homesick sailors, the freshwater mermaids of San Marcos are a species of their own.

The mermaids were introduced to the area in the early 1950s at the Aquarena Springs Theme Park. One of the attractions at the park was the Submarine Theater, which offered underwater performances by these mermaids.

"People would come from all across the U.S. to see our mermaids," Moreno said.

The original San Marcos mermaids, according to the Mermaid Society of Texas' website, were locally hired college students who learned to twirl and flip and perform the underwater routines.

After the theme park shut down in the 1990s, San Marcos continued to be known as the unofficial Mermaid Capital of Texas. Moreno said to support this title, the Mermaid Society of Texas has pushed, and were successful, in designing and placing statues and murals of mermaids across San Marcos.

Moreno said she hopes the organization might also one day help bring the Submarine Theater and its mermaids back to San Marcos.

“We can all champion around the mermaid, which is our symbol of guardianship,” Moreno said. “She was once an underwater entertainer and now she is our river guardian. She’s a superhero for our children."

She added that the festival provides the creative platform for all of the community to get involved.

“Together we can protect our beautiful San Marcos River. As far as the (Submarine Theater), let’s see what happens in a year or two.”

IF YOU GO

What: Fourth Annual Downtown Mermaid Promenade and Mermaid Aqua Faire

Where: San Marcos Plaza Park, 206 North CM Allen Parkway, San Marcos

When: The Downtown Mermaid Promenade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by the Mermaid Aqua Faire until 6 p.m. The schedule of events for the full 15-day festival can be found at splash.mermaidsocietysmtx.com/splash-calendar

Cost: Free to the public