The Mermaid Society Art Ball

The third annual Mermaid Society Art Ball is around the corner and the Mermaid Society SMTX is already gearing up to pack the night with sights and sounds that will bring all the senses to life.

The Mermaid Society Art Ball is the premiere event of the SPLASH Festival – SPLASH standing for stewardship, preservation, local, arts, sustainability and heritage. This private gala event will take place at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment – the historic grounds of the Aquarena Springs Amusement Park, the original home of the Aquamaids and the headwaters of the San Marcos River.

A mermaid from Sirenalia waves at the crowd of ball-goers from a life-size tank, during the 2016 Mermaid Society Art Ball. Daily Record photo by Denise Cathey

Mermaid Society founder July Moreno said the grounds of The Meadows Center were chosen to host the annual event not only for its historic ties to San Marcos with the Aquarena Springs Amusement Park and the headwaters of the San Marcos River, but also because of the important research and stewardship resources that now stem from The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.

The last vestiges of Aquarena Springs Resort were removed in 2012, when they hoisted the 467-ton underwater theatre from Spring Lake, in an effort to restore the historic area – that remains, according to fossil records, to be one of the oldest continually inhabited locations on the continent – to its original, pristine condition.

The Mermaid Society Art Ball will spark the historic grounds to life with starry rooftop views, sunset glass-bottom boat cruises, live music, dancing, dining, cocktails and live art performances throughout the night.

“Ralph and the Sweet 69,” The Porch’s Mer-tini submission for 2017. It’s made with Dripping Springs Vodka infused with vanilla, Frangelico, lemon and garnished with candied bacon and “Mermaid Dust.” Daily Record photo by Colton Ashabranner

The Mermaid Art Ball is the culmination of celebrating the arts and culture of San Marcos, and as such attendees tend to incorporate the arts into their couture – everything from mermaid-inspired headdresses and crowns to scale-like embellishments on full-length gowns and suit jackets can be seen.

“It’s a night for the those invested in the arts, it’s a night for the river guardians and environmentalists, it’s meant to be a night that everyone can feel special coming to this event,” Moreno said. “Everything about this event, from start to finish, is meant to be an experience. We want people to come to expect the unexpected.”

The Mermaid Society has designed the night to be a local immersion into the arts with live art performances throughout the night. And the performances and exhibitions change every year – from real, live mermaids in tanks in 2016 to aerial acrobat performers and a paper fashion exposition in 2017. And this year, the Mermaid Society is keeping the performances a surprise.

“This event is about celebrating the arts – that’s the theme of the ball every year. The art performances have been carefully curated and they are meant to be done at random throughout the night – lovely surprises throughout the night,” Moreno said. “It’s art happening.”

Maya the Mermaid – or Angela Zumwalt – in full mermaid regalia greets art ball attendees during the 2016 ball. Daily Record photo by Denise Cathey

Aside from the art performances, there will be live music with dancing. The Mer-tini Competition will come to a head at the Art Ball with two semi-finalists competing on the rooftop of the Meadows Center during the ball, providing their signature cocktails for free throughout the night. Root Cellar will be catering a brand new menu and Dripping Springs Vodka is developing a signature drink for the event and will be providing the spirits for the event, alongside local brewery Altmeyer & Lewis and wine bar Patio Dolcetto. Connie Mosqueda of Relax-n-Wax Studio will also be offering mermaid-and-art-inspired beauty services – like colorful hair extensions and other services – throughout the night to all attendees.

The Mermaid Society Art Ball is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 21 from 7 – 11:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now online at www.mermaidsocietysmtx.com. Tickets are $125 and cover all food, drinks and entertainment throughout the night. Event sponsorships are also available online starting at $500 and offering extra perks.

“Everything about this event, from start to finish, is meant to be an experience. We want people to come to expect the unexpected.” - July Moreno