GENERAL

Frequently Asked Questions

    • The festival is in Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow, NY. 

    • Gates open at 1PM

    • Parade starts at 2PM

    • Beach access opens at 3PM

    • Everything wraps up, beach gates close at 5PM

  • Myth’s, lore and mystical sightings here in Sleepy Hollow Country are not limited to land. Beneath the murky waters of the Hudson River is a story that is only beginning to unfold. Find out more at the festival!

  • We love the Coney Island Mermaid Parade, and hope you attend it in June! This festival is a separate entity in partnership with Riverkeeper, and the Village of Sleepy Hollow.

  • YES! We recommend purchasing tickets in advance.  Lots of procrastinating mermaids may lead to longer processing times. So get your tickets now!

    If you decide to purchase tickets at the door, there will be ticketing areas by the two entrances into the park: 

    North Gate: Palmer Avenue at Kingsland Point Park

    South Gate: Sleepy Hollow River Walk

    Cash is accepted.

    • Tickets are $10

    • Kids 10 and under are FREE, but must reserve a ticket for entry - you can do so here. **

    • Group of 4 advance online purchase bundle: $35 

    • Residents of Sleepy Hollow are able to pick up 2 FREE wristband tickets per household in advance at pop up locations - starting July 1. Follow us on Instagram or Sign up HERE for details. 

    • **Kids 10 years old and under accompanied by Sleepy Hollow residents with wristband tickets: do not need tickets. They will be admitted with their grownup’s wristband. This applies to Sleepy Hollow residents who have picked up their wristband tickets in advance only.   

    Sleepy Hollow Resident Complementary Advance Tickets

    Thanks to a partnership with the Village of Sleepy Hollow, Residents of Sleepy Hollow are entitled to 2 free entry tickets per household, in advance of the event. As a reminder, all kids under 10 are free.

    These tickets (bracelets) will be distributed at the following locations and times times:

    • Sleepy Hollow Senior Center

      • Mondays-Fridays (July 1, 2, 6-17) - 8:30am-2:00pm

    • Sleepy Hollow Bookshop

      • Saturday, July 4 - 9:00am-1:00pm

      • Saturday, July 11 - 9:00am-1:00pm

    • Village Confectionery

      • Sunday, July 5 - 12:00pm-3:00pm

      • Sunday, July 12 - 12:00pm-3:00pm

    Kids under 10 are free and do not require a ticket if accompanied by a resident wearing a bracelet. 

    If you are unable to make the distribution times and locations, please email us at rivermermaidfest@gmail.com and we will try to accommodate you. 

    This offer is for Sleepy Hollow residents only.

    You must pick up these tickets in advance and must have them on hand for free admission. If you lose them, forget them, or don’t get them in time, you will need to purchase tickets that day. See ticketing info for prices. 

  • We strive to make Sleepy Hollow Mermaid Festival an affordable community event that allows families, and specifically residents in Sleepy Hollow, to experience the Hudson River and wade in Kingsland Park Beach. 

    The festival has grown very quickly in a short amount of time - with over 10,000 mermaids, pirates, and river folk in attendance last year. In order to make this event sustainable and to pay the performers, artists, and mermaids who make this event so wonderful, we need to charge admission. In partnership with Riverkeeper, a portion of admission fees will be going towards Hudson River education and advocacy.  We are committed to keeping Sleepy Hollow Mermaid Festival as affordable as possible.

  • The festival’s rain date is Sunday, July 19, 2026 from 1-5PM.

    In the event the festival moves to the raindate, all tickets will be automatically transferred and valid for that new date. 

    Beach access is weather dependent.

PARADE &
COSTUME CONTEST

Frequently Asked Questions

I have questions about the parade! 

The Parade on Land and Water is from 2 PM - 3 PM. 

You need to purchase tickets and register for the land parade or register for the water parade which includes admission. There will be plenty of room for spectators along the parade route.

This is a tandem LAND and WATER parade!

ON LAND

Riverkeeper’s Fish Parade

The land parade route is a .5 mile loop along Kingsland’s shoreline and park.  The terrain is partially paved, grass, and dirt trail (be careful for low tree roots). 

To register for the land parade you must purchase festival ticket, and sign up for the parade. After you register, you will get an email with more parade information. 

We encourage early registration.

COSTUME CONTEST

Anyone joining in the Land Parade is eligible to be in the costume contest. You will receive costume contest information at the parade registration check-in table by the entrances on the day of the festival.

ON WATER

Rivertown SUP and Yoga
SUP Mermaid Parade on Water

If you want to paddle with the water mermaids, you must register in advance with Rivertown SUP and Yoga. Event ticket price is included in the registration.  All SUP Mermaid Questions can be answered at Rivertown SUP and Yoga!

BEACH ACCESS &
THE HUDSON RI VER

Frequently Asked Questions

    • You can wear a tail in the river, but you won’t grow a tail in the river, we promise!

      Weather permitting, a small designated area Kingsland Beach will be open for wading and playing in from 3PM - 5PM. 

      This is not a sanctioned or maintained swimming beach. Enter water at your own risk.

      Lifeguards will be on duty, thanks to the Shames JCC, during this time.

    BEACH RULES:

    • In all matters concerning safety, the on-duty lifeguards have the final say and must be obeyed without question.

    • Children under the age of 12 must be with a responsible adult. Children under the age of 5, must be accompanied in the water with an adult.

    • No floatation devices unless for safety purposes.

    • No throwing anything into or in the water.

    • No dogs allowed on beach area.

    • No alcohol on the beach.

    • This is not a sanctioned or maintained swimming beach, there may be sharp objects on the riverbed and beach. Water shoes are strongly recommended.

  • Myth’s, lore and mystical sightings here in Sleepy Hollow Country are not limited to land. Beneath the murky waters of the Hudson River is a story that is only beginning to unfold. Find Your mother told you NEVER set a toe in the river...Guess what, things have changed.

    The Hudson is cleaner than it has been in decades thanks to pollution remediation, activism and infrastructure improvements. Today, most of the Hudson River is clean enough to swim in most of the time (except after it rains). However, along the 150 miles of the estuary, only 4 swimming locations are open to the public. Why? The short answer: opening or reopening a beach is difficult due to overly complicated regulations, aging infrastructure, and untreated sewage overflows.     Visit Riverkeeper to learn more about swimming in the Hudson.

  • Originally one of Westchester’s six public bathing locations, Kingsland Beach closed over 50 years ago. The Sleepy Hollow Mermaid Festival reopened it for the public to swim and experience a cleaner Hudson River. 

    The gate is locked most of the time, but there are other events that use the beach like the Lighthouse Swim, the Polar Plunge, and the Sleepy Hollow Triathlon. One can also use the beach by taking a sailing class at SEAS, or a Kayak tour, or of course if you SUP. 

    There are no other times the public is allowed on this beach. Wouldn’t it be great if we could enjoy this beachfront outside of these events?  

    Sign Riverkeeper’s I want to swim in the river petition and help us reopen this beach for the public.

  • The river looks brown and muddy because of soil and sediment suspended in the water. The Hudson River naturally transports sediment and nutrients from its source in the Adirondacks, south to New York City where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Learn more about the abundant aquatic species that call this estuary home.

    We want to see a clean, vibrant Hudson River for both fish and people.

  • YES!  Having local access to cool off during the hottest time of the year is a climate equity issue and a public health issue. 

    Sleepy Hollow is one of many Hudson River communities that lacks local, affordable, public swimming locations. When temperatures rise, people are desperate for a place to cool off. Do not swim alone. We need maintained and supervised areas to swim in the Hudson safely.  

    Creating safe, local, affordable swimming in our community is not an easy task: it is expensive and there are regulatory obstacles to overcome.  

    To learn more about opening Hudson River beaches come to the Mermaid Festival and dip your toes into the river for yourself.