Inaugural Sleepy Hollow Mermaid Festival Splashing Into Town Saturday

SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY — Sleepy Hollow is throwing a a party on the waterfront and this time, the denizens of the kingdom of the sea will be the guests of honor.

The Village of Sleepy Hollow, in partnership with the Sleepy Hollow Project, Riverkeeper, and Rivertowns SUP & Yoga, announced the inaugural Mermaid Festival and Parade will take place this weekend as part of the village's yearlong 150th anniversary celebration.

"The festival is really an environmental and river access event dressed up as a fun party," Megan Isenstadt, of the Sleepy Hollow Project, said. "We want to help tell the story of our park and river in a joyful, accessible way."

The fun will take place on July 20, from noon to 4 p.m., at Kingsland Point Park.

Organizers say there will be a costume parade at 1 p.m. "when mermaids, pirates and sturgeon march on land and float on water (SUP paddle board and kayak) alongside puppets and a marching band."

"The Mermaid Festival is not only going to be a lot of fun but it supports a very important message – celebrating the Hudson River, the history of our area, and promoting clean water and water access. So many people come to my classes and have never been on the water before," Tara Scheller, of Rivertowns SUP & Yoga, said. "Sharing that experience with them is always so inspiring. Being on the water can be challenging, peaceful, therapeutic, and a great workout too. Seeing the shoreline from the river provides a new prospective and I witness many 'a-ha' moments. I could go on and on about how people can feel inspired and empowered by paddling on the Hudson River, add in SUP Yoga and PaddleFit and it takes it to another lever! Being able to provide this opportunity to others is really special and I do not take that for granted. There aren’t many places in our area that provide public access to the river. I feel very fortunate that I can educate others about how to be safe and have fun on the Hudson River."

After the parade, there will be a party in the park with food trucks, vendors, bounce houses, artmaking, and music from Pablo Mayor's Folklore Urbano Trio.

Kingsland's beach, which first opened in 1924 and closed in 1974, will be open to explore after the water parade ends. "We can't wait to open the beach gates at the Mermaid Festival in honor of its long history of river access to our community," organizers said.

"Riverkeeper is excited to be a part of the Mermaid Festival. It supports our goal of opening more public swimming locations on the Hudson River, including the shuttered beach at Kingsland Point Park," Tracy Brown, President and Hudson Riverkeeper at Riverkeeper, said. "We have made great progress in cleaning up the Hudson. In order to keep that momentum going we need more people getting in the water and developing that direct connection with this beautiful waterway. Our community needs and deserves a direct connection with the Hudson River and the river needs that connection to our community. Together we can thrive."

Festival Schedule:

• Noon: Parade check-in
• 1 p.m.: Parade on Land & Water
• 2 p.m.: Mermaid Festivities in the Park & Open Beach: "Family-friendly art activities from festival partners, information on river stewardship and safety, music, performances on stage, food trucks, mermaid marketplace, bounce houses, face painting and an open beach for crowds to enjoy."
• 2:30 p.m.: Costume contest
• 4 p.m.: Water ceremony

Participants, Performers, & Activities:

• ArtsWestchester ArtsMobile
• Ali Luminescent - professional mermaid
• Brazilian drumline Fogo Azul
• Claire Wildman
• Erwin Ong: mermaid tail art
• Greg Corbino: puppets made from plastic found in the Hudson
• The Headless Horseman
• Hungry March Band
• Jill Liflander: mermouse portraits
• Karen Viola (Climbing Tree Design)
• Little Genii Puppets: 8-foot Mermaid Puppet Odine
• Pablo Mayor's Folklore Urbano Trio
• Puppets from Processional Arts
• Riverkeeper crafts
• Rivertown Dance Academy
• Sleepy Hollow Arts Collective (SHAC)
• Shroon
• Strawtown Studio: nature art and water ceremony
• Terrapin Rose: tarot card reading

Food options, suitable for both landlubbers and mystical sea-people, will include: All Heart Baking Co., Anish Supreme Foods, Captain Lawrence, Cousins, George's Woodfire Pizza, Jimmy's Soft Serve, Kinwich, Manor Sangria, Nathan's SHEAC MerMade Lemonade, and Suga-Friez.

Vendors will include: Biomimi Art, Cross Your Heart Artistries, J. McKinley, Kila Arts, Love from Brooklyn, Mystical Megan, Natural4Nourish, Origami Owl, Salem-Russel Works, and Sleepy Hollow Bookshop.

A festival map can be viewed here. Find out more information and how to register for the parade here.

The rain date for the Mermaid Festival and Parade will be July 27.