2025 Mermaid Promenade Registration
May 17, 2025
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The Countdown Starts NOW!
The 2025 Mermaid Promenade is Making Waves this May with A.R.R.R.T!
Get ready, San Marcos!
The Mermaid Promenade is BACK — and it’s more meaningful than ever before!
It’s More Than a Festival—IT IS A Creative Call to Action!
The Mermaid Festival is designed as a vibrant, creative platform that brings people together to celebrate everything that makes San Marcos truly one-of-a-kind—from its rich culture and community spirit to its beloved San Marcos River.
Calling all river lovers, creative spirits and eco-warriors! We’re proud to present the 8th Annual Mermaid Capital of Texas Festival this May, celebrating a major milestone: the 10-Year Anniversary of the Mermaid Society of Texas! We’ll be making a splash in downtown San Marcos on Saturday, May 17, 2025, and YOU are invited to be part of something truly magical — and powerful.
This isn’t just a parade… it’s a RIVER STEWARDSHIP RALLY!
With parade spectators lining the streets and cameras rolling (yes — Texas Country Reporter will be filming!), we’re calling on YOU — the artists, the families, the schools, the businesses, the wild and whimsical — to unite and help AMPLIFY and ACTIVATE river stewardship like never before. This is our chance to rally our community and visitors alike to play a part in protecting the heart of San Marcos — our sacred river at the start of the swimming season!
Why May 17th Is a Bigger Deal
This year, May 17th brings a powerful alignment. It’s not only the day of our beloved Mermaid Promenade and Aqua Blues Music & Art Festival—May 17th lands on a powerful trifecta:
National Endangered Species Day
National Recycling Day
National River Clean-Up Day
This is a unique opportunity to unite celebration with purpose—to raise awareness, highlight our local endangered species, and inspire our community to take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future.
Our River. Our Responsibility.
With the festival’s move from September to May, we’re embracing the energy of peak river season—when the water is flowing, the sun is shining, and outdoor adventures are in full swing. It’s the perfect time to spotlight the importance of protecting our spring-fed river from litter, pollution, and overuse.
The San Marcos River is the soul of our city. This festival is how we honor, celebrate, and protect it—together. Whether you’re a lifelong local or just discovering the magic of San Marcos, everyone has a role to play in caring for this natural treasure.
And the timing? Oh, it’s no coincidence…
Just one week before Memorial Day weekend, one of the highest river traffic times of the year — we are turning our Mermaid Promenade into a vibrant, celebratory CALL TO ACTION. With music, dance, floats, costumes, and smiles — we’re using our creative platform to say loud and proud:
Keep Our River Litter Free! Protect Our Endangered Species! Reuse & Recycle for Texas!
Celebrate What Makes San Marcos unique
This festival is your invitation to splash into summer with purpose—to gather as a community, show your river love, and embrace the spirit of stewardship through creativity and joy. It's a chance to lead by example, teach the next generation what it means to care for our environment, and show the country how San Marcans get their Mermaid ON!
Let’s make this a summer to remember—one where we protect what matters most, celebrate what makes us unique, and come together for something greater!
Let your float, your costume, your dance, or your presence help tell this story. From ARRRT hats and river-inspired fashion to eco-friendly messages and festive fun — we’re calling on our vibrant San Marcos community to get creative, get bold, and get eco-fabulous! Check it out - ARRRT Programming — Mermaid Society SMTX - HQ'D in San Marcos- The Mermaid Capital of Texas
So, are you ready to march, dance, roll, or glide through the streets of San Marcos and lead a movement of joyful stewardship?
Let’s make waves, make memories, and make a difference. Together.
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Parade Floats!
We’re challenging all Promenade participants to ARRRT it up by decorating floats using discarded and reused materials — and yes, there will be awards for the most creative and sustainable designs! -
Parade-goers are encouraged to let their creativity shine by designing fashion and accessories made from recycled or repurposed materials. While a mermaid twist is always welcome, your creation can take any form—just let your imagination run wild! Turn soda tabs into tiaras, paper into petals, and bottle caps into bling. This is your moment to make your ARRRT statement and show how style and sustainability can go hand in hand. *Let’s keep our streets and parks beautiful—please avoid materials that could become microtrash.
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Wanna strut your stuff?
Let us know if you want to be a featured participant in the ARRRT Showcase at the Aqua Blues Music and Art Festival — happening immediately following the Promenade at Plaza Park! Show off your eco-fashion creation and join a community celebration of creativity and conservation! -
Be sure to checkout The ARRRT Zone at the Aqua Blues Music and Art Festival - a creative space where imagination takes center stage, and everyone is invited to ARRRTfully play!
Back by popular demand, KVUE’s Hannah Rucker is diving back in as the vibrant Emcee of the Mermaid Promenade Grand Stand! With her contagious energy, joyful spirit, and signature good vibes, Hannah will once again light up the parade and keep the magic flowing. She’ll be joined by the incredible team from KZSM, San Marcos Community Radio, whose mission is to engage, enlighten, and entertain by amplifying the rich diversity of our community. Together, this dynamic duo promises a Promenade experience filled with music, laughter, and unforgettable moments!
A Gentle Reminder from the Mermaid Society of Texas:
As we come together to celebrate the magic of the Mermaid Promenade, we ask all participants and attendees to help us honor what this celebration is truly about—our sacred San Marcos River and the vibrant life it sustains.
Glitter, stick-on face and body jewels, and other small decorative items may seem harmless, but they often become microtrash—tiny pieces of litter that are nearly impossible to clean up. When they fall to the ground, they’re easily swept into storm drains and washed directly into our river. Once there, they can harm fish, amphibians, birds, and other wildlife that mistake them for food, leading to injury or death. Even biodegradable glitter can take years to fully break down and still poses a danger to aquatic life in the meantime.
We are celebrating something truly special—the unique beauty of our river, the endangered species who call it home, and our collective responsibility to protect them. Let’s reflect that in how we show up.
Please say no to glitter, plastic stick-ons, and other microtrash-producing decorations. Choose eco-friendly, reusable, or natural alternatives to express your sparkle. When we care for our river, we shine even brighter.
Together, we can celebrate with intention and lead by example—for the river, for the wildlife, for future generations
To pay by check, please complete the online entry form below and mail your check to:
Mermaid Society SMTX
P.O. Box 963
San Marcos, Texas 78667
Make check payable to Mermaid Society SMTX.
To make payment online, please choose level of category for participation. Once payment has been made submit your parade registration.