# Mermaid Festival Photos Arthur Drooker Captures the Finned Attendees at North Carolina's Merfest By Meghan Young | Published 2015-01-19 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/merfest References: [coolhunting](http://www.coolhunting.com/culture/conventional-wisdom-merfest) & [ncmerfest](http://ncmerfest.com/) Folk tales, [Disney](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/avatar-the-way-of-water) movies and more have spurred on a movement known as Merfest. Founded in 1988, photographer Arthur Drooker traveled to North Carolina to document the avid mermaids and mermen that show up to Merfest. It takes place at the triangle Aquatic Center in Cary and invites people from all corners of the country. Full of [vibrant colors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/profiles-in-color) and magical fins, the Merfest is a place for like-minded individuals to come together in a beautiful and fantastical way. Drooker says, "A mermaid embodied an idealized self: beautiful, graceful and confident. To emulate a mermaid one developed a mersona, akin to the fursona that a furry at Anthrocon inhabits to model an animal character s/he aspires to be like." Merfest celebrates a different type of being. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.2/10 - Popularity: 95% | Activity: 84% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/stylephotography) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Mermaid Culture:** There is an opportunity for companies to create products and experiences that cater to the growing trend of mermaid enthusiasts. - **Fantasy Fashion:** Designers can tap into the popular mermaid fashion trend to create innovative, whimsical and awe-inspiring pieces. - **Alternative Identities:** People are looking for ways to express themselves in unique ways, catering to alternative identities is an opportunity for companies to create products and experiences that appeal to these groups. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fashion Industry:** The fashion industry can create collections that are inspired by mermaid culture, which could be embraced by fashion enthusiasts. - **Event Industry:** There is a need for the event industry to create more experiences that celebrate alternative identities like Merfest which is a perfect opportunity to create safe spaces for people to come together. - **Beauty Industry:** The beauty industry can create products inspired by the vibrant colors and magical fins of mermaids, catering to the growing trend of mermaid enthusiasts. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Real Life Mermaid Spottings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chicken-of-the-sea.md) - [Iridescent Smoothie Toppings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tropical-smoothie-cafe-mermaid-style.md) - [Mermaid Fashion Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mermaid-high-fashion-dolls.md) - [Game-Inspired Aquarium Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sea-life.md) - [Coordinated Coastal Swimwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/salty-mermaid.md) - [Interactive Marine Ecosystem Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marine-ecosystem-sculptures.md) - [Color-Changing Mermaid Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mermaid-doll.md) - [Mermaid-Inspired Makeup Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shells-jewel-collection.md) - [Unique Artistic Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amusebouche.md)