Portlandia Mermaid Parade
The Portlandia Mermaid Parade and Festival brought lots of fun and recognition for drag and Portland drag performer Darcelle XV.
1 of 10
Erika Powell, left, and Asha Amouri show off their mermaid outfits on Poets Beach in Portland for the Portlandia Mermaid Parade on July 29, 2023. Powell drove up from San Francisco last night to make it to the parade and was also in Coney Island's Mermaid Parade in June.
Caden Perry / OPB
2 of 10
"Serephina," one of the drag performers at the Portlandia Mermaid Parade, takes a bow after their performance on July 29, 2023. Serephina ended up winning the title of Portlandia Mermaid Parade Sea Queen.
Caden Perry / OPB
3 of 10
"Capricus," left, shows his steed, Pepe the King Prawn, to Dena Schofield, center, and her child at the Portlandia Mermaid Parade on July 29, 2023. Schofield said she put together the cart, umbrella and costumes all in the span of one night on a whim.
Caden Perry / OPB
4 of 10
Greyson Faith, center, offers a seashell wish at the Portlandia Mermaid Parade on July 29, 2023. Parade-goers made wishes into seashells and threw them in to the Willamette River for good luck.
Caden Perry / OPB
5 of 10
"Una the Mermaid" tells mermaid stories from around the globe at the opening ceremony for the Portlandia Mermaid Parade on July 29, 2023. Stories of mermaids come from all over the world, including the Kalapuya in the Pacific Northwest to the stories of sirens in ancient Mesopotamia.
Caden Perry / OPB
6 of 10
Joel Collier, left, and Jeff Hinshaw look out at the Willamette River from Poets Beach in Portland on July 29, 2023. Collier and Hinshaw were mermaid-ing on the Columbia River with a friend last week when they heard about the Portlandia Mermaid Parade.
Caden Perry / OPB
7 of 10
Lisa Anderson, left, and Hannah Heller say "Shello!" for a picture at the Portlandia Mermaid Parade on July 29, 2023. Although both from Portland, their mermaid personas come from "the Southeast Lagoon," according to Anderson and Heller.
Caden Perry / OPB
8 of 10
The Mermaid Parade makes its way through the Portland Saturday Market on the Portland waterfront on July 29, 2023. The parade was led by mer-ambassadors ages 8 to 17 years old, selected for their commitment to community service and representing the mermaid community.
Caden Perry / OPB
9 of 10
Dani Stotler from Tigard, Ore., swishes their ribbon as they follow the Portlandia Mermaid Parade in the South Waterfront Park on July 29, 2023. The Mermaid Parade started at the Japanese American Historical Plaza and finished at Poets Beach under the Marquam Bridge.
Caden Perry / OPB
10 of 10
"Malachi the Sailor," an impromptu performer from Asheville, North Carolina, dances to Gangnam Style by Psy for his drag performance in the Portlandia Mermaid Parade on July 29, 2023. Malachi was in Portland to visit family and heard about the parade right before leaving North Carolina.
Caden Perry / OPB