Best Events at the Key West Mermaid Festival 2022

The Key West Mermaid Festival 2022 finds its land legs again this summer, July 1 - 5, 2022, in Key West! The 3rd annual “fin-tactic” family-friendly event will take place at select locations around the island to celebrate mermaids and mermaid enthusiasts alike, all while promoting ocean awareness in the Conch Republic.

Best of all, tickets to Mermaid Festival events benefit Reef Relief, a Key West non-profit organization dedicated to improving and protecting our coral reef ecosystem through local education, beach clean-ups, and Coral Camp. Their efforts stretch from Key West all the way to Miami, and reach nearly 6,000 K-12 grade students in both public and private schools.

Ready for one of the most magical festivals in the Florida Keys? Here’s all the Mermaid Festival events we have our eye on.

Can’t-Miss Events at the Key West Mermaid Festival 2022

Friday, July 1

The family-friendly gathering begins Friday, July 1, with a special Meet the Mermaids where you can greet the entire pod. Kids will love taking a “shell-fie” with their favorite mermaids. Afterwards, be part of a magical mermaid encounter at Swim with the Mermaids in the island’s very own mermaid lagoon. The pool party will even have mer-tails available for purchase. Perfect your mermaid swim beforehand at 24 North Hotel. Our pool is one of the largest on the island! Closing out the day, the festival’s Ocean Blue Party requires you to don your favorite hue of ocean blue while enjoying food and drink specials, mermaids, and a live DJ.

Saturday & Sunday, July 2 - 3

Friday’s kick-off events will clear the way for the weekend’s Salty Saturday and Sunday, which starts at 10 a.m. at Truman Waterfront Park. Visitors, locals, and mer-people will find fun information on swim safety and ocean conservation, plus mermaid and ocean-inspired treasures, entertainment, and vendors. This event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the weekend.

Following Saturday’s festival, Shots & Giggles encourages all to “drink like a mermaid” at their Mermaid Block Party beginning at 8 p.m. The local watering hole features themed cocktails like Mermaid Water, Mermaid Margarita, and The Pink Mermaid.

Monday, July 4

Plan a 4th of July trip to Key West, which coincides with the Conch Republic’s favorite dessert event: The Annual Key Lime Festival! The Mermaid Festival is throwing a 4th of July party of its own, at Loggerheads Beach Bar near Mallory Square. The 4th of July Mermaid Splash, ‘Red, White, Blue, & Mermaids Too’ features all things connected to the world of mermaids. Starting at 10 a.m., visitors can enjoy food and drink, live music from B-Man & mi-Shell and Kahra, and swimming in the open ocean with the mermaids.

See the Mermaid Festival Schedule for a full list of events, locations, and times, and be sure to grab your tickets ahead of time.

Book Your Hotel for Key West Mermaid Festival 2022

Ready to make waves this summer in Key West? First you’ll need a place to stay. 24 North Hotel is located in Key West and offers shuttle service to Old Town, right near all the Mermaid Festival action. There, you can find the renowned Sloppy Joe’s Bar on Duval Street, the Hemingway Home & Museum, the Southernmost Point of the continental United States, and more. Intrigued? Read 24 reasons why you want to plan Key West as your next vacation destination here.

Enjoy a special rate, free parking, and two welcome cocktails upon arrival with our Florida Residents Escape package. Browse our specials to see which one works best for you.