West Coast’s oldest mermaid fest comes to Sacramento. Your guide to fin-tastic fun
Underwater smiles, colorful tails and a “shell-iberation” of everything mermaid are in store when the California Mermaid Convention returns to the Sacramento area.
Advertised as the longest-running mermaid event on the West Coast, the three-day convention includes a costume parade, swimming, shopping and an ocean-themed masquerade ball.
Rachel Smith, co-organizer of the convention and co-founder of Mermaid and Mom, a mermaid party entertainment business, said the California Mermaid Convention brings together water enthusiasts who care for the environment and love dressing up.
Smith invited eventgoers to “glue some shells to your face and have a joyful time.”
“Everybody deserves to have a space where they feel seen, supported and joyful, and the convention is really here for that,” she told The Sacramento Bee.
What is the California Mermaid Convention?
According to Smith, the California Mermaid Convention got its start around 2011 as a small gathering of mermaid enthusiasts.
“That started from a tiny group of costume weirdos who decided they wanted to be mermaids and go on a little walk around Old Town,” Smith said, and expanded into a three-day event that attracts hundreds of “merfolk” from across the country. “We’re crazy proud of how much it’s grown.”
Smith said she has been a part of mermaid gatherings for about 10 years.
In 2025, Smith said, the California Mermaid Convention is partnering with Netflix, whose animated children’s show “Mermaid Magic” follows a mermaid princess and her friends on underwater adventures.
When is Sacramento mermaid festival in 2025? Where is it?
The California Mermaid Convention runs from Friday to Sunday.
The convention kicks off Friday with the Promenade of Mermaids, 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Embarcadero Waterfront in Old Town Sacramento.
The free all-ages event features music, games, activities and, of course, people dressed as merfolk. Attendees will have a chance to participate in a flash mob during the parade.
That’s followed by the Launch Party from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Dive Bar, 1016 K St. in downtown Sacramento. That event is for partygoers ages 21 and older.
The main convention takes place 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Cordova Community Pool and Hagan Community Center, 2197 Chase Drive in Rancho Cordova.
Other highlights include The Bubble Ball, an under-the-sea masquerade party that encourages attendees to come dressed in their “best upcycled, recycled and reused” looks.
The all-ages, “Bridgerton”-inspired ball will feature special performances, photo opportunities and beer and wine, with eventgoers getting a chance to be picked as the “Pearl of the Season.”
The Bubble Ball takes place 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Hagan Community Center.
What can I expect at Rancho Cordova event?
According to Smith, people can expect workshops, photo shoots, flash mobs, vendors, parties and more.
These include several opportunities for mermaids of all skill levels to sharpen their skills, as well as crafting sessions.
“There’s literally something for everybody at the convention,” Smith said. “You don’t even have to be a mermaid. You can be someone who’s interested in cosplay, someone who’s interested in crafts, who’s interested in water sports, who’s interested in ecology and how to save our planet, our oceans and our river systems.”
How much are ticket prices?
Ticket prices depend on the event and day.
For instance, the Promenade of Mermaids in Downtown Sacramento is free but the Launch Party requires a $5 cover charge.
Spectators can get a Landlubber Pass for $50 for one day and $85 for Saturday and Sunday. This pass includes group photos and access to convention panels and lectures.
Convention passes range from $25 to $105 per person, and include the opportunity to swim at Cordova Community Pool. Workshop admission costs $60 to $435.
Tickets to the Bubble Ball cost $75.
Where can I park?
Parking is free at the Hagan Community Center and Pool in the main lot. There’s additional street parking in the surrounding neighborhood or in the paid lot at Hagan Park.
Parking is limited and dependent on street parking and local garages for events located in downtown Sacramento and Old Town Sacramento.
Organizers encourage attendees to take Lyft, Uber or other rideshare services.
Smart parking meters in downtown and midtown Sacramento operate on a tiered rate system, according to the city of Sacramento site. There’s no time limit to park at these meters.
It costs $2 to park for the first hour or two hours depending on the meter, with parking costing an additional $1.50 per hour after that.
Parking rules are enforced in Old Sacramento seven days a week, including holidays, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at all meters and time-limited parking spaces.
For other areas in Sacramento, standard operating hours can range from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. depending on the location.
