Carolina Merfolk Winter Shoal
Come join us February 6th and 7th 2026 at the Sonesta Charlotte Lower South End Hotel for a splashing good time! Dive into a world of mythical creatures and underwater wonders.
Get ready for a day filled with mermaid and merman fun, including classes, costume contests, merfolk crafts, and of course swimming. Don’t forget to bring your best mermaid tail or trident for the perfect photo op!
Whether you’re a seasoned sea creature or just mermaid curious, the Carolina Merfolk Festival is sure to make a splash.
And the best part, this is a two for one deal. If you come to our Winter Shoal you get into our main Festival in August for free.
Schedule Highlights
Though Guests can start arriving as early as 4:00 PM on Friday the 6th. The main event will take place Saturday February 7th. We will have a variety of events and activities throughout the day. See some of the highlights here!
Activities
Vendors
Feb 6-7 2026
Find bubbles, trinkets, and bits of magic among our Merchants who brought their wares from across the seven seas. Or find them in their own realms by traveling through the magic portals on our Merchants of the Seas page.
Photo Booths
Feb 6-7 2026
Check out the photo booths set up to highlight the wonder, confidence, and creativity that make merfolk so enchanting. Costumes, tails, and accessories are welcome—and encouraged!
The Booths will be set up Friday afternoon and will be accessible until the end of the Gala Saturday night.
Contact Laura with Fin and Fairies to schedule a one-on-one photo shoot if you’d like some professional shots both on land and in the water.
Swimming
Feb 6-7 2026
Float with friends, practice your poses, or simply soak in the magic of being your true mer-self—no instruction, no pressure, just pure aquatic freedom.
The Hotel Pool will be available from Friday till end of the Gala Saturday night except for select times where it will be in use for Photoshoots.
And a short drive away is Marion Diehl Recreation Center where Merfolk are welcome. From 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Saturday we’ll be sharing the water with humans. But from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM we’ll have a portion of the pool to ourselves. Bring some toys, bring a camera, and have fun in their 12 ft deep end.
Scavenger Hunt
Feb 7, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
And we didn’t forget about the guppies! Get the map from the check-in desk and follow the clues to find pieces of the pirates missing treasure. Find all the pieces by 4:00, return them to the Mermaid Queen and win the order of the Megalodon.
Fortune Telling
Feb 7, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
See what the future holds for you with Althaea the Apothecary as her Tarot cards reveal your past, present, and what is to come.
Tarot Readings
$35 for 15mins
$75 for 30mins
$110 for 60mins
Gala
Feb 7th – 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Be at our Gala Saturday night for an evening of music, dancing, and food. Walk the red carpet, be the belle at the ball, dance with a pirate, and have fun.
This is a non-alcoholic event as there will be those who are underage present. If you have the desire for a cocktail, please seek the service of the hotel bar.
Stage:
Pilates & Movement – 9:00 AM
Taught by Mermaid Elise and Mermaid Cassie
Learn how to increase flexibility and breath control with Mermaid Elise who is a certified Pilates instructor.
Then follow Mermaid Cassie as she teaches you how to move underwater to get the best photos.
Sharks are Friends – 10:00 AM
Taught by Alexis the Shark Guardian
Turn your fear into fascination and join Mermaid Alexis for her panel: Sharks are Friends. Mermaid Alexis, known as “The Shark Guardian,” is affiliated with the world famous Shark Angels. Learn about her first hand face to face experiences with sharks, shark facts, what to do if you encounter a sharks, learn how you can make a difference, and much more!
Diving and Mer Safety – 11:00 AM
Taught by Kaelyn the Mermaid
Dive into safe Mermaiding practices in and around the water with a PADI Instructor! The underwater world is both enchanting and challenging, which is why dive safety is essential for all Merfolk. This presentation highlights preparedness, assessing conditions, emergency procedures, workplace safety, and all of the magic in between.
The Core of Mermaid Athletics – 12:00 PM
Taught by Mermaid Mia
Learn best practices for mermaid training by the director of the Mermaid Trails USA and two time Merlympics competitor Mia Sim.
Mermaid History – 1:00 PM
Taught by Siren Sapphire
The history of mermaids goes all the way back to ancient Samaria, and myths of their existence come from all over the world. Get a glimpse into that history with this comprehensive class by Siren Sapphire.
Costume Contest – 2:00 PM
Judged by Ellie May Cosplay, Kitty Kitsune, and Lilmoon Cosplay
Bring your best water themed costume. It can be Mer, Pirate, Fairy, or any other creature or character as long as it has a connection to the water.
See all the details here.
Dance Performance – 3:00 PM
We welcome Jezibell Anat to the stage as she displays her years of acquired skill as a dancer and performer.
Reward – 4:00 PM
Before we close for the day to get ready for the Gala, all our hunters will meet at the main stage to claim their reward for finding the pieces of the Mermaid Queens treasure.
Classroom:
Finding Your Muse – 9:00 AM
Taught by Muse the Mermaid
Join an exploratory seminar for new mermaids focused on self-discovery and the art of business administration, design, and financial realities curated to your signature mersona.
Crafting Crowns – 10:00 AM
Taught by MerSiren Caspia
Save yourself potentially hundreds of dollars over your career by learning to make your own water safe crowns. You’re not just taking home an accessory, you’re taking home a skill that will last the rest of your life.
Silicone 101 – 11:00 AM
Taught by Ellie May Cosplay
This class will go over the materials used to make silicone appliances and accessories. It will cover sculpting, making rigid and flexible molds, and pouring the silicone. It will also cover the proper PPE needed and how to safely work with these materials, as well as the common mistakes in working with silicone and how to prevent cure inhibition.
Marketing for Mermaids – 12:00 PM
Taught by Alexis the Shark Guardian
Marketing for Mermaids is an exclusive experience in teaching mers how to take on mermaiding in the professional realm. Learn how to effectively market yourself with business tools such as Branding, Content Creation, Marketing, Consumerism, Social Media Algorithms, and other common business practices. Alexis is a Marketing Expert and content creator backing her name with not only her knowledge and experience in field of professional mermaiding, but also her education with her Bachelors in Marketing, a Minor in Entrepreneurship, and Masters in Business Administration.
Make-Up for Mermaids – 1:00 PM
Taught by The Caspian Mermaid
Is your mermaid look missing something? Make-up can add the little details to bring your mersona together. But how do you keep it from washing away? Find out from The Caspian Mermaid as she teaches you the tricks of the trade.
Tickets are available now!
Tickets can be purchased on our Eventbrite page. See the link below
