The City of San Marcos will host a Mermaid Month kickoff event Wednesday, September 1 celebrating the City’s recent designation as the Mermaid Capital of Texas. The event will be held at the San Marcos Rec Hall, 170 Charles Austin Drive, beginning at 10 a.m. Refreshments will be served. 

The event leads up to the 2021 Mermaid Capital of Texas Fest, which was proclaimed a signature celebration for the City of San Marcos by Mayor Jane Hughson on August 17. The festival includes an Aquamaid Scavenger Hunt, the Mermaid Promenade, and the Downtown Street Faire. Event information may be found online at mermaidsocietysmtx.com. 

Residents and visitors are encouraged to take part in mermaid-themed events throughout the month of September. Ideas that celebrate the City’s arts, culture, heritage, and responsibility to protect natural resources include:

  • Take a self-guided tour of the City’s mermaid sculptures, known as the Mermaid March. Created by local artists, each mermaid represents a different unique aspect of San Marcos and draws attention to the City’s history, natural beauty, and attractions.
  • Learn about the San Marcos River’s ecosystem and look beneath the surface from a glass bottom boat during a visit to the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.
  • Take a dive into the history of the San Marcos mermaid with an interactive presentation from Mermaid Maya. 
  • Enjoy dinner and drinks, the San Marcos way. From Mermaid Margaritas to SMTX River Water Daquiris, the City is full of restaurants to satisfy taste buds.

Ahead of Mermaid Month, the City created an identity piece that is available for free to individuals and businesses interested in promoting the Mermaid Capital of Texas designation. The image may be used on any material and may be accessed at www.visitsanmarcos.com/mermaidcapital. 

For more information, contact the San Marcos Convention & Visitor Bureau at 512.393.5930. For media inquiries, contact communicationsinfo@sanmarcostx.gov. 

About the Mermaid Capital of Texas Designation

Championed by the Mermaid Society and the City of San Marcos in partnership with Sen. Judith Zaffirini in the Texas Senate and Rep. Erin Zwiener in the House, the resolution to designate San Marcos as the Mermaid Capital of Texas had a two-year journey from its inception to the Governor’s desk in May of 2021. Initially proposed in 2019, time ran out for the resolution to be presented to lawmakers before close of the 86th Legislative session. Brought back during the 87th Legislative session in 2021, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 9 was adopted by the Senate on April 19, by the House of Representatives on May 8, and then signed by the governor on May 24. See the official copy of the designation here. 

The resolution celebrates the cultural significance of the mermaid in the community and our dedication to protecting and cherishing the San Marcos River: “By adopting the mermaid as a symbol of the city, the people of San Marcos are encouraging public interest in the natural environment and highlighting the central role their community is playing in preserving the water resources of the Lone Star State.”

 

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