Mermaids, mermen, jellyfish and other sea folk will flood the streets during the Return of the Mermaids event Saturday.
Inspired by the famous Coney Island Mermaid Parade, the event was dreamed up by David Aguirre — known for the local Food Truck Roundups and other arts events around town — and Lizzie Mead, owner of Silver Sea Jewelry and board member of the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association.
“I had to create my own mythology to connect the desert with mermaid culture,” Aguirre said. “So I came up with this: Every year when the clouds open up, the mermaids return. The concept taps that longing for the ocean that we all have — a time when the desert was once an ocean.”
At least a portion of the desert — parts of North Fourth Avenue and downtown — will resemble an ocean once again as mermaids strut their tail fins and seashells in the sidewalk parade and arts event, which will include a mermaid costume contest, live music, a DJ, dance performances, food trucks and art vendors.
“I love doing summer events,” Aguirre said. “Because people like me are still in town and looking for creative things to do.”
In its inaugural year last year, the family- friendly event drew about 1,000 people, many in costume, Aguirre said. And, he’s expecting it to be even bigger this year.
“I wanted to create something that would grow, like the All Souls Procession has grown,” Aguirre said. “Last year I saw whole families of mermaids and sea creatures including jelly fish, octopi, starfish, colorful fish, sea turtles, pirates, King Neptunes, sea witches and coral reefs, to name a few.”
Since Mead was already planning a mermaid event on Fourth Ave., and Aguirre's idea was for downtown, the duo joined forces to create one event that spans across both districts.
“Event development and event planning have been a fun part of being involved in my Fourth Avenue community,” Mead said. “Return of the Mermaids is my absolute favorite thing I have been involved in and it has been a blast to help develop this event with David Aguirre and the merchants associations.”
Creative people working together from downtown and Fourth Avenue bridges the two districts.
“Working together is a beautiful thing,” Mead said.
The thought of an undersea adventure in the desert might sound weird to some, but that’s the part of the fun.
“Tucson loves unusual events and gatherings,” Mead said. “A monsoon celebration is very Tucson.”
Worried about the rain? Don’t. The event will happen rain or shine, which makes sense, since it’s a celebration of water and the creatures that live in it.
Undersea Fashion
Dressing up adds to the excitement of the mermaid parade.
“It’s a very artistic and beautiful event and it’s interactive,” Mead said. “People dress up. The real star of the show is Tucson.”
Whether you want to dress as a mermaid or other sea creatures, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a costume.
“Mermaid fashion is actually on trend right now — fantasy color mermaid hair, flowing garments, jewelry with the natural elements of the sea and the colors of the beach,” Mead said.
Tucson Thrift, 319 N. Fourth Ave., got in the spirit by decking out its storefront window with mermaid mannequins, has lots of options.
New to the thrift store this year are mermaid fins. They’re long lamé skirts with fins attached to the bottom. The get up comes in three colors — pink, blue and green — and can be picked up for $32.
Another option is shiny leggings with scales that flare out at the bottom.
“They kinda have a disco vibe, but they’re fun,” said Jessica Gonzales, the shop’s manager.
The store also has various wigs, shell jewelry and flower leis.
It’s conveniently located across the street from Haggerty Plaza, where the Fourth Avenue events begin, so if you don’t have a costume, you could run into the shop right before the event.
“We stocked up this time around, knowing it’s happening,” Gonzales said. “The amount and variety we have is wider than before. We’re excited. We love mermaids.”
If you’re the crafty type, you can make your own.
Mermaid model, Tabatha Holan, made her own tail, seashell bra and matching hair comb. She picked out shiny fabric at a JoAnn Fabric store and created a pencil skirt that flares out at the bottom like fins for the tail.
“For the top, I took a bra and hot glue and got a bunch of seashells, moss and pearls and anything that caught my eye,” Holan said. To make it not look like a bra, she sewed yarn onto the straps.
“It took many hours, but it was a lot of fun,” Holan said. “The thrift store on Fourth Avenue got some fins in for the event, but I thought it was more fun to make mine. You can release your inner mermaid.”
