10th Season Finale: Pirate and Mermaid Fiesta

After a brief break in April, 

there are two Mermaid's Market scheduled for the month of May. 

The first one will be on Saturday, May 7th.

We are happy to announce that the second market in May will be 

our Season Finale Party of the 10th season of the Mermaid's Market. 

The "Pirate and Mermaid Fiesta" will be on the Saturday 

of Memorial Day Weekend: May 28th, 2022.

NOTE: This is the 4th Saturday of May

As readers may remember, the first Mermaid's Market was in December of 2012. By the end of our 2nd season in April of 2014, we had introduced a New Orleans-style Pirate and Mermaid party as the last event of the season. Back in 2014, we had no restaurant vendors and no bar. So, this was the first time we requested a food and alcohol permit from the city administration. We received permission and had a fantastic first Finale Party - including food, music - and we served our first ever Mermaid Margaritas!

The following year, we decided to add live music to the Finale Party. Ever since, we have invited a variety of musicians and entertainers - always keeping with our New Orleans, Pirates and Mermaids theme.

Now, a quick diversion back to 2011 and another memory: The Jazz Festival at Penasco del Sol (was it called Plaza Las Glorias back then?)... well, the point is that in the fall of 2011, they held a Jazz Fest and we were introduced to the super cool and funky sound of the Bad Cactus Brass Band. Soon after that, in 2012 the New Times named them Phoenix’s "best traditional New Orleans brass band."

All these years later, we've caught up with them again!

Their website (www.badcactusbrass.com) concludes by asking, "Is your event unusual enough to pique our interest?"

Hmmm, of course I had to ask! 

. . . and, we are so happy to announce they will be our special guests at this year's Pirate and Mermaid Fiesta. This 8-piece band from Phoenix - the Bad Cactus Brass Band - will be entertaining us with 3 sets of music throughout the day. Their fun, upbeat sound will be sure to get you up on your feet! 

In addition, the Paulani dancers (polynesian/Hawaiian dancers) and the Cultivarte group with their African-style drums & dance will be entertaining us.

Of course, our 30+ "mermaid" arts and crafts vendors - including artists, painters, photographers, designers and artisans - will have new and unique treasures for you to discover and enjoy!

In the spirit of New Orleans fun, the "Mermaid's Lounge" bar will be serving up traditional New Orleans-style Hurricanes - in addition to our signature Mermaid Margaritas and ice cold beer. We have great lunch choices! El Menche Tamales, Rocky BBQ House with their famous ribs and pork, and other artisanal delights.

As has been true for all 10 seasons, we work with the local administration to present these events for our community. The Mermaid's Market benefits the local DIF organization, which gives assistance to local vulnerable families and children.

Add to the fun of the day and dress up as a Pirate or Mermaid!

Come by the bar, show us your costume to win great prizes!

 

Don't miss this Season Finale Party!

See you there.

 

 

 

2021-2022 Season Dates

 

2021 "Pirate Party" was a Success!

Our "Pirate Party" on May 29th turned out to be an absolutely

fantastically fun finale!

We had never planned a market this late into May

and we had a few concerns about the heat of the day.

But, the day was beautiful and the wind stayed at a perfect level.

Even tho it was "warm-ish" 

we did have a few ACTUAL Pirates and Mermaids visit 

while many more "hinted" at their true identity with a pirate eye patch, 

wearing an on-theme T-shirt 

...and even a couple sightings of the authentic mermaid clamshell bra.

Here is our photo album: 

Photos courtesy of Tony Ballesteros, Barb Rock, 

Mary Robson, Carol Oveross and Russ Black 

An early morning to get everything ready! 

Lots of shopping options! 

We appreciate the terrific cooperation of all of our vendors. 

This entire 2020-2021 Season was more complicated for everyone 

with complying with local protocols. 

HUGE THANKS for making this Season a Success! 

See you in October!

2021 - 2022 

Our 10th Season! 

 

Season Finale to be May 29th!

Mermaid's Market (with Pirates!) in May

by Naomi Black

Can you believe we are nearing the end of the 9th season of the Mermaid's Market? 

I thought I might briefly review the history of the market and tell you what the "mermaids" have planned in the very near future!

Way back in the winter of 2011 and spring of 2012, we participated as vendors at a Farmer's Market here in Peñasco. Yet, as the fall of 2012 approached, we realized the Farmer's Market would not be returning. Russ and I began thinking about organizing a similar event. In discussing some of the obstacles that existed for the Farmer's Market, we decided that we had a very real lack of "farmers!"  The prior market had definitely attracted more artisans, artists and crafters than farmers! 

So, we decided to call it this new project the Mermaid's Market. It sounded a little more artsy. Besides, who knows exactly what mermaids sell - or buy for that matter! (Although, it seems as tho they must buy & sell wonderful treasures!)

We also wanted a highly visible spot. The "Shrimp Plaza" or Park was our first choice! We were absolutely thrilled to receive permission to have the park as a home for the Mermaid's Market. Through these past 9 seasons, we have worked with several administrations to renew these permits. The Mermaid's Market also benefits our local DIF organization, which gives assistance to local vulnerable families and children.

At the end of our 2nd season (April of 2014), we introduced a season finale: the Pirate and Mermaid Extravaganza. It would be a "Cajun-style New Orleans Party". This was the first time that we had food and beverages at the market. The following year, we added live music and entertainment!

In April of 2018, we began sharing the park with the Oaxaca Market each spring around the Semana Santa season and that year there was no finale party. In 2019 our finale was relocated to the far side of the park. And of course, in April of 2020 there were no group gatherings scheduled at all.

For 2021, we have redesigned our schedule and, after a brief interruption, we are happy to announce our Pirate and Mermaid Fiesta will happen! This Mermaid's Market season finale will be on Saturday, May 29th.

Our artists are definitely excited to return to the park! We will have food and drink along with live music and entertainment all day. In the spirit of New Orleans fun, the bar will be serving up Hurricanes in addition to our signature Mermaid Margaritas! There will be a few strains of Zydeco music thrown in, too. 

Are you willing to join the fun? Dress up as a Pirate or Mermaid and we will have prizes for great costumes!  We hope to see you there.

Final Event of the Season will be in May!

 For the 2020-2021 Mermaid's Market Season, we have decided to delay our final Market of the Season. 

Our original schedule for this year skipped having a market on the 1st Saturday, as this fell on the Saturday of Semana Santa. 

However, we had planned for April 17th to be 
our finale. As we approach the date, we now find the Shrimp Park/Plaza will still be hosting the Oaxacan Market (Feria). 

Therefore, we are chosing to delay our Finale Market event until May this year. 

This year, it will be a little later in the year. We are happy to announce it will be on

 Saturday, May 29th 
(the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.)  

 Will this final event of the season include any Pirate and Mermaid Shenanigans? 

. . . well, let's just say YES, start searching  for your Pirate or Mermaid costume now! 

We are excited and looking forward to the May Mermaid's Market Finale event! 

Stay tuned for more details! 

2020 - 2021 Season

 We are calling this 2020-2021 Season the "Masked Mermaid" Edition 

of the Mermaid's Market. We are all anxious to get back to the park!

However, we are also working closely with the local officials 

to be sure that our market will open with all Required Protocols in place.

All vendors and attendees will be required to adhere to these protocols.

MERMAID'S MARKET Summer 2020

Everyone involved with the Mermaid's Market was disappointed 

when we had to cancel our last two events of the season
due to health concerns regarding the Covid19. 

Those events would have been on March 21st and finally our huge 

season finale, the Pirate and Mermaid Extravaganza on April 4th. 

For many of us, this city-wide lockdown also meant
closing our storefront shops. 

Others, who normally walk the beach as vendors,
were barred from all the beaches. 

Much of Spring break and then the Semana Santa holiday
were closed to all visitors.

As small business owners and artists, many of us  

traditionally have depended on these springtime events 

for a large portion of our income!

We are therefore putting together 

a Virtual Mermaid's Market - over the course of the summer -
which we hope is a way for you to
stay connected - or re-connect - with the individual

artists and vendors from the Mermaid's Market. 

SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS! 

Please "Like" the Mermaid's Market Facebook Page

to see new and individual items posted:
https://www.facebook.com/MermaidsMarket/

MERMAID'S MARKET DIRECTORY 

NEW FOR SUMMER 2020! 

PLEASE FIND THE TAB ABOVE
or click here: 

http://www.mermaidsmarket.com/p/blog-page_12.html

2019 - 2020 SEASON - DATES ANNOUNCED

April 6th A few Final Details.

Schedule of Events for this Saturday's 

Pirate & Mermaid Extravaganza 

APRIL 6th, 2019   10 to 3.

This Year we have Great Support 

from the Local Community!

Here is our banner showing Sponsors.  

Pirates and Mermaids 2019

MERMAID’S MARKET 
SPRING NEWS

Wow! Time flies. 
The Mermaid’s Market is in its 7^th season! 

It seems like just a few days ago it was October and we were anxiously waiting for the construction workers to be finished working in the main section of the Shrimp Park! 

And, now we have been enjoying the remodeled park for several months!

The market has become known as a great spot to find unique & eclectic ‘mermaid treasures’ (including gifts, clothing, candy, home decor, paintings, photographs and more.) Thus, making the 1^st and 3^rd Saturdays a fun, one-of-kind shopping day! 

Each year, we welcome a few new vendors. The BBQ House Restaurant has become a regular landmark at the park this season! It is fantastic to have delicious barbecue lunches available right next to the Mermaid’s Lounge – where you can also grab a beer, Mermaid Margarita or Bloody Maria. We also have other new regular vendors (who we call “mermaids”) offering artisan coffee, candy, baked items, jewelry and more.   

On the first Saturday of February we joined efforts with the Local Rotary Club and co-hosted the 2^nd Annual Fishbowl Seafood Fest. This Rotary fund-raiser brought almost 20 restaurants plus over 25 arts & crafts vendors to the park! After an early morning rain “drizzle” we ended up having a fantastic sun-filled day of food, music, art and fun.

As spring is arriving, we are looking towards April and making plans for our season finale! Last year with an unusually early Semana Santa week and an equally early visit from the Oaxaca Arts & Crafts merchants, our annual Pirate and Mermaid Extravaganza was forced to take a hiatus.  

However, 2019 will see the return of the Pirate and Mermaid Extravaganza, bringing the musicand tastes of a New Orleans Cajun party to Peñasco - with pirates and mermaids galore! We will have live music & entertainment throughout the day along with food & drinks specials!

The Mermaids invite everyone to join the fun by dressing up as a Pirate or a Mermaid.  

 Once again, the costume contest will present Cash (whoo-hoo!) and Prizes 

for the best costumes in 4 categories: Adult and Child Pirate & Adult and Child Mermaid.

We have a few more surprises planned! 

Enjoy the day with a whole crew of Pirates and Mermaids! 

So…April 6, 2019 - it’s a date, right?

A Few More Details: 

Food & Drinks

Satisfied Frog serving Delicious Cajun Specialties

BBQ House serving up their tasty BBQ 

Ricardo's Cafe (artisan coffee) 

Mermaid's Lounge... with Mermaid's Margarita 

plus straight outta New Orleans Hurricanes  

Entertainment 

The City of Penasco Marching Band

Los Poncho

Paulani Dance group

SPONSORS

Penasco Recreation 

Rocky Point 360

Satisfied Frog 

Get involved: be a Vendor or Sponsor

mexiconaomi@gmail.com  

mexicoruss@gmail.com

2018-2019 Season Dates Announced

2018 -2019 Season 

We are happy to announce our dates
for the Mermaid's Market for the up-coming season.

2018

October 20

November 3

November 17

December 1

December 15

 

2019

January 5
January 19

February 2nd ~ FISH BOWL 

(co-Hosted Event w/ Rotary Club)

February 16

March 2

March 16

April  6th 

 Season Finale Event 

PIRATE & MERMAID EXTRAVAGANZA

*Dates are subject to final approval.

2018 Spring and Summer

"even mermaids need a vacation"

Mermaid's Market

Our regular season is completed. 

We will begin the 2018-2019 season mid-October.

Until then, stay tuned for any summer special events. 

Enjoy your summer!

2017-2018 Season

The "Mermaids" are back at work! 

Check out all the Mermaid's Treasures at each Mermaid Market. 

We have New Vendors (Mermaids) scheduled to be joining us! 

The 2017 - 2018 Season dates are listed on the poster and to the right 

Hope to see you!

Mermaid's Market and Local DIF Programs

A Note by Russ Black

The Mermaid’s Market is going into its 5th year here in Puerto Peñasco. It will start up again the third  Saturday of October and continue each first and third Saturday of the month through the first week of April.  

It is great fun and shows the talent that we have here in our little seaside town when it comes to art and the crafts that these artisans can accomplish. Our artists pay a small fee to be with us on those selected Saturdays in the downtown park known as Shrimp Plaza.  A portion of that fee is set aside to be donated to our town's local DIF program. We make the donations twice each season: one in December and one after our finale in April. We think it makes a difference and we know that DIF appreciates the little extra bit of support the Mermaid's Market provides.

After a lengthy conversation with Linda Pivac de Munro (the first lady of Peñasco) I learned a lot more about what her passion is regarding DIF and it’s activities. Our DIF office (Development of Integral Families) is all about helping locals. One area that this administration is committed to is that of Education.

As of right now there are 83 low income kids from Puerto Peñasco receiving a better education because of DIF. Each of these students were chosen because they are drug free, have good grades and work ethic along with having a financial need. Most of them are enrolled in local schools; however, eight of the students are in a “student house” in Mexicali and are attending University there. The rent of the house, the utilities and the University, are all paid for by DIF Peñasco.

DIF raises money in several different ways for their programs. Many events have a donation to DIF built in.  Sonoran Resorts is a big supporter with their Las Vegas Nights program held each year. 

The event that raises the most money for the kids at DIF is the annual Black and White Ball. This is a night to dress up and enjoy a fine meal. The proceeds all go to DIF. Here is an invitation to this year's Ball.
It will be held at the Convention Center in Puerto Peñasco on September 30th.

In the past, the event was all in Spanish. This year parts of the presentations may be in English which will make it more interesting for anyone who doesn't speak Spanish. Enjoy a relaxing dinner. And, the Orchestra music presentation promises to be incredible.

So, get out your best Black and White. . .and enjoy a fun evening.

When you purchase your tickets, please let them know that you read about it from the Mermaid’s Market!  

If you can’t attend the Ball but would like to make a direct contribution to DIF, let me know and I will send you the instructions!    mexicoruss@gmail.com

Be sure to visit us at the Mermaid’s Market in Shrimp Plaza the first and the third Saturday each month starting October 21st!

2017 SUMMER EVENT

IT'S A DATE! 

 

CONTACT: 

mexicoruss@gmail.com

 

The Pirate Party ... "After Words"

2017 Pirate & Mermaid Extravaganza 

 

A Great Day of Fun. . .Enjoy the Photos! 

Thank You to Manny Sanchez Photography

with extra photos by Tony Ballesteros 

(and maybe a few from Rita and Libby).

Russ welcomed the First Lady of Penasco,  

Linda Pivac de Munro, who spoke briefly about the 

purpose of the local DIF and its recent accomplishments. 

Elegante School of Dance   

8 little octopus girls danced to Octopus' Garden

6 Pirates, 3 Mermaids and a final Hip-Hop Dance   

Entering from the street and weaving through the crowd! 

Puerto Penasco City Marching Band 

 Richard Scott and Company 

with more Sounds of New Orleans, Louisiana USA

 And, then it was a fantastic hour of dancing

Our Favorite Local Band, Los Ponchos  

 

The audience enjoyed the Entertainment 

along with Great Food from our Major Sponsor, 

Satisfied Frog Restaurant

 

_______________________________

 2:30 Arrives and it is time for the 

Pirate & Mermaid Costume Contests

This year, we had almost more 

judges than contestants...

But who's counting? ( O...that would be me)

Our Judges include...

Ashley of Canvas Hair Studio
Ellie from Oceano Real Estate

Maru from Eco-Fun  
Sarina, Local writer & Health instructor 

Along with Bill, Claudia, Dick Liv and Patti 

The kid's are always the cutest! 

The smaller they are, the more adorable they are! 

They all had great hand-made costumes

and with prizes for both 1st place and 2nd place, 

everybody that entered was a winner!   

Prizes included Cash along with Gifts from the Idea Store 

and Banana Splits from Latitude 31 ...yummy.    

They weren't locals (I think they swam in from the Sea.)
and, these Mermaids made their own fantastic seashell crowns!

Their Prizes included Cash along with Bottles of Tequila,

and Gift Certificates from BooBar and La Spa de Penasco 
 

 

Most popular was the Pirate Contest! 

In the running was quite the Motley Crew 

of Crusty-looking Characters!   

Their Prizes included Cash along with Bottles of Rum,

and Gift Certificates from BooBar and La Spa de Penasco

(SIDE-BAR)
Goal for 2018...More Contestants!  

  

Our Artists, Crafters, and Vendors are the BEST! 

Not only do they agree to be called "Mermaids," 

but they pack up their Treasures 

and set up great displays on selected Saturdays

at the park from October thru April each year. 

We certainly appreciate their cooperation! 

 

Thank You to Everyone who attended! 

Thanks to all the 

Artists, Dancers, Musicians, Vendors, Contestants, 

Cooks, Bakers & Candy-makers. 

Special "Thank You" to our Crazy Volunteers

Thayne, Tamra, Alberta and Hector.

THANK YOU to the Long List of Sponsors 

who help support this Event 
(See List at Left)  

and the City or Puerto Penasco 

and the Local DIF office for their support.

"One Salty Pirate & his Not-Quite-a-Mermaid Hang Out here"

. . . NEXT YEAR . . . 

JOIN US & DON'T MISS OUT!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS  

APRIL 7, 2018

For the Entire Event Photo Album visit: 

 http://www.mannysanchez.photography/Events/Pirates-Mermaids-2017

Click on the Video to view