Margate’s first Mergate mermaid parade will take place this June following a successful fundraiser.
The parade will be followed by a day of activities at The Oval Bandstand and Lawns and tickets for this are currently being offered in return for a donation.
The ‘Mergate’ event is the idea of native New Yorker and now Margate resident Daphna Rowe who hopes to bring people together and also raise funds for Rise Up Clean Up and the RNLI .
Daphna and husband Jason, moved to the isle from London in February 2020, just before the pandemic hit.
The pair had been in town the previous year for the funeral of Jason’s aunt and decided to get out of London and settle in the town where Jason’s family live.
Fragrance business owner Daphna said: “I grew up in New York City and went to the Coney Island Mermaid Parade and loved it. Once I found out that Dreamland here in Margate was inspired by the Dreamland of Coney Island, I thought we should have a twin parade.
“I’m happy to say we have raised enough money, even have a couple of sponsors and private benefactors to make this first year possible.”
Events will take place on June 3, starting with a mermaid swim at Walpole Bay at 9am.
At noon a parade will leave from Turner Contemporary making its way to The Oval Bandstand and Lawns on Eastern Esplanade where there will be activities, stalls and entertainment until 5pm.
Performances will include cabaret, a Cirque du Soleil-esque hoop show, ballet, ocean conservation talk, children activities, music and much more!
The first batch of tickets for events at The Oval are for a donation of your choice starting at £1. Once these are gone the final batch will be released. These will go quickly so get your tickets secured!
All children entering The Oval will get a free Mergate activities book. Crayons and toys will be available.
Each year organisers will nominate a cause or two to raise funds for.
The 2023 nominated organisations are:
Rise Up Clean Up, a community-driven social initiative with a mission to clean up Margate’s beaches and protect the local coastline, ocean, and native wildlife.
Margate RNLI is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ready to save lives.
