Children’s Museum to Hold MER-Day on Sept. 28 to Celebrate Mermaids and Mermen

MER-Day at the V.I. Children’s Museum! (Submitted art)

Myths about merpeople (mermaids and mermen) have always surrounded the Caribbean. Given the recent popularity of these beautiful but sometimes scary sea creatures, people are bound to see the image of a mermaid on a T-shirt, notebook or hanging up in a child’s room.

This month, the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum (VICM), with the help of storyteller and artist Euell Nielsen, will be hosting MER-Day at the museum for children who are obsessed with merpeople. On Wednesday, Sept. 28, families are invited to bring their children to the VI Children’s Museum to enjoy Mermaid story time, crafts and coloring, and even experience a water-based science demonstration.

Parents can also enter the Mermaid Doll raffle for a chance to win one of two handmade, washable crochet mermaids created by Nielsen. The mermaid dolls are valued at $200, and raffle tickets will be $10 each. Interested parents may visit the museum to fill out their raffle tickets, or email their name, email and phone number to vichildrensmuseum@gmail.com.

Visitors will pay regular admission prices to enter the museum on MER-Day. If individuals would like a MER-photo taken of their little one, be sure to bring an additional $10 which gets someone a 5″x7″ print and digital copy.

Photos will be taken between 2:30-3:30 p.m. Mermaids have typically been more popular than mermen, but both boys and girls are welcome to celebrate their love of Merpeople on MER-Day! All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

“The VI Children’s Museum is here to provide a space for children and their families to explore, play and discover together! When Nielsen had the idea for MER-Day, I was automatically on board. Myths to explore, passions to discover with books to read and coloring pages?! Mermaids have always been a cool idea to contemplate, but I’m so happy we have members of the community who want to share their passions and talents with the children of the Virgin Islands,” said Chantel Hoheb, executive director of the Children’s Museum.

For more information on MER-Day, people may visit the museum’s website at www.vichildrensmuseum.org or call 643-0366 or email vichildrensmuseum@gmail.com. Be sure to follow the VICM on Facebook and Instagram @vichildrensmuseum for updates.