Mermaids make waves at aquarium in March

KURE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — With a flick of some fancy fins and a trek of 600 miles, the world-famous Weeki Wachee Mermaids will create a magical experience at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher in March.

The underwater entertainers captivate audiences with mermaid merriment punctuated by undersea high-fives, twirls and twists, as they swim alongside sharks, rays, eels and schooling fish. In addition, visitors can meet mermaids on dry land, ask for autographs and engage in a mermaid-themed scavenger hunt.

The mermaids will swim once an hour on the hour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. Guests wishing to meet a mermaid on dry land may do so from 9:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m.

“Mermaids have always captured the imagination of seafarers and sea lovers,” said Jennifer Metzler-Fiorino, education curator. “The Weeki Wachee Mermaids offer a unique and entertaining experience and give us an opportunity to share with thousands of guests how we can all better care for the ocean and animals living there.”

For a deeper dive into the Aquarium mermaid experience, guests can make reservations for additional special programs (limited space available):

Mermaid Paint Night, 6-8:30 p.m. Fridays, March 1 and 8

Includes professional instruction, paint supplies, take-home canvas, diving mermaid and meet and greet with photo opportunity.

Mermaid Morning, 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m. March 1-3 and 8-10

Includes mermaid and sea turtles program, diving mermaid and exclusive meet and greet. Mermaid-themed donuts are an added treat.

Under the Sea AquaCamp , 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. March 2,3 and 9,10

Mermaid-themed day for children ages 5-12, with crafts, activities, live animals, snack and mermaid photo opportunity.

Children’s Discovery Time, 10:30 a.m. Fridays, March 1 and 8

Mermaid-themed; recommended for younger guests aged 3-5.

The Weeki Wachee Mermaids are part of a 70-year tradition celebrating a mythical underwater world at one of Florida’s oldest and unique family attractions, the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.

Daily mermaid dives and meet and greets during regular Aquarium hours are included with admission. Camps, Mermaid Mornings, Discovery Time and Paint Nights require additional ticketing and preregistration. Please note dive schedules are subject to change without notice. Aquarium admission and reservations are available at ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher.