Have you ever seen a mermaid? With more than 360 miles of coastline in Oregon, you might find some folks out there who claim to have seen these mythical creatures sunbathing on rocks or swimming with sea lions. Or perhaps they've just attended the Portlandia Mermaid Parade! This magical, whimsical parade is taking place in Portland soon, and you're going to want to attend.

This year, the Portlandia Mermaid Parade celebrates its third annual event, and it's bound to be magical.

The opening ceremony will start at noon on July 28th, 2018 at the Japanese American Historical Plaza located on the Portland Waterfront Promenade (NW Naito Pkwy. and NW Couch St.). In addition to the opening ceremony, you'll enjoy entertainment while you wait for the parade to begin.

The parade will starts at 1 p.m. from the same location and is led by the Grand Marshall, who is nominated by the community. The Grand Marshall must be 18 years old, and "be a dedicated environmental advocate, or humanitarian serving for the betterment of our Earth, our waters, wildlife, and human/merfolk welfare."

Know someone who you'd like to nominate? Visit the Portlandia Mermaid Parade website to request a nomination application!

Everyone is invited to participate in the parade, and it's free to be part of this epic event. The parade is all-inclusive and welcomes merfolk of all ages, genders, races/ethnicities, orientations, and body types. You can even design a little push float, decorate your bike, or ride a pedicab through the route.

You won't believe the beautiful, elaborate costumes you'll see on the merfolk here. From glitter to spangles, shells to pearls, these costumes are absolutely stunning.

The parade is in Portland, so you know it's going to have a wonderfully wacky, weird vibe. Part of the fun is seeing the strange spectacle and creativity that fellow residents have perfected.

Just look at some of the creative costumes that have been spotted in years past!

We love the creativity of this "Mother of Pearl."

Check out this magnificent hat - it's a seafaring confection!

The parade ends at Poet's Beach, where you can join the mermaids for some splashing, picnicking, and frolicking on the sand.

This is a family-friendly event, so bring the kids and join in on the fun!

For more information, and to register to participate in the parade, visit the Portlandia Mermaid Parade's website, and keep up on the latest event news on the parade's Facebook page.

After the daytime festivities, check out the Siren's Masquerade Ball, an adults-only party with live music, a buffet dinner, bar, and plenty of water views. Visit the Siren's Masquerade Ball website for more details and tickets.

Have you ever watched or participated in the Portlandia Mermaid Parade? We'd love to see your photos and hear your mermaid stories!

While Portland is busy celebrating mermaids, the eastern Oregon town of Hermiston is celebrating the best watermelons in the state - check it out!