As Mermaid Week in Hays County begins Sept. 9, the Mermaid Society of San Marcos looks forward to its inaugural downtown Mermaid Parade and SPLASH festival Sept. 17, which caps off a week devoted to the arts and positive river stewardship.

The organization, according to its website, is a grassroots community organization committed to strengthening connectivity among “like-spirited community partners,” and to work creatively and collaboratively towards a “shared vision in suppor...