Catalina Island's 2nd Annual Mermaid Festival takes over Avalon on October 24 and 25, 2026, with an ocean-themed art festival, a synchronized mermaid swim and a beach screening of The Little Mermaid. It's the latest sign that the mermaid theme has moved well beyond summer, with mermaid-themed events now landing in fall.
Mermaids are coming ashore in Southern California this weekend. Catalina Island's Mermaid Festival returns to Avalon on October 24 and 25 for its second year, timed for the last full weekend before Halloween. It's a reminder that the mermaid theme isn't just a summer thing anymore.
What's trending
According to NBC 7 San Diego, the 2nd Annual Catalina Mermaid Festival centers on a mermaid and ocean-themed art festival along Crescent Avenue in Avalon. The weekend program includes a rubber ducky derby, a synchronized mermaid swim, live music, a procession of dinghies, Mermaid Bingo, and a screening of The Little Mermaid right on the sand.
The festival sits on the calendar just ahead of Halloween, which gives visitors a reason to dress the part.
Why it's resonating
Mermaids have a rare kind of staying power with kids. The theme mixes a little sparkle with the ocean, works for a wide age range, and doesn't depend on a single movie or character. That flexibility is part of why mermaid events keep popping up beyond peak beach season.
There's also a practical appeal for parents. A mermaid theme is easy to pull together with pastel colors, seashells and bubbles, and it works just as well at a pool party in July as in a living room in October.
Bringing the mermaid theme home
Not everyone can catch the ferry to Avalon, but the festival's spirit is easy to borrow for a fall birthday. The easy wins: a pastel palette of purple, pink and aqua, a seashell garland, a "pearl" treasure hunt, and an outdoor or living-room movie night to echo the beach screening.
If you're planning one, a pastel invitation sets the tone before anyone arrives. Our editable mermaid birthday invitation with a free 18-page party planner features an original watercolor mermaid and edits in Canva, with a version you can text to guests.
The bottom line
Catalina's festival shows how far the mermaid theme has traveled from summer pool parties. With a second year on the books and a weekend packed with family-friendly events, expect to see more mermaid celebrations on fall calendars, both on the island and at home.