Bethany Beach Poseidon Festival events will take place at the Bandstand and Nature Center from Friday to Sunday, May 26 to 28. The annual event marks the unofficial start of summer with a celebration of the sea and helpful information to prepare the community for potential coastal emergencies.

All weekend events are free and sponsored by the town.

Festivities begin at 7 p.m., Friday with a performance by Jimmy Buffett tribute band Parrotbeach.

The fun continues at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Nature Center, rain or shine. Those who come dressed as a pirate or mermaid may win a prize. Attendees can enjoy tea and cookies with a mermaid at the reading circle and go on a pirate treasure scavenger hunt on the Baldwin Trail.

Pirates will take over the Bandstand Plaza at 1 p.m.. Guests may enjoy strolling pirates, engaging activities and informative shows. Adults and kids alike can come dressed in seafaring costumes to participate in a parade and contest.

Popular beach band 3 Hour Tour will take the stage at 5 p.m. with Trop Rock favorites. The day will end with an Aloha Summer! luau show at 7:30 p.m., offering an enchanting journey through the Polynesian Islands and a chance to learn the hula.

Sunday includes activities at the Bandstand exploring the world of mermaids and the need for ocean awareness. Festival attendees can see a live mermaid in a tank perform underwater tricks, gather around a “glam shell” for photos and educational story times, and discover Bethany Beach with local Mermaid Tasha who will discuss the resort’s marine life and the namesake fish of Tasha’s tail, the marlin.

In between shows, attendees can take part in a hands-on marine science camp taught by a marine biologist/environmentalist. Topics will cover sharks, Mola Mola sunfish and sea turtles.

Local experts will share tips from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Sunday, on what to do if a coastal emergency threatens the area. Lifeguards, police officers and emergency personnel will be on hand to discuss ocean safety and distribute helpful handouts.

The U.S. Navy Band Cruisers will finish out the weekend with a performance of music ranging from jazz, rhythm and blues and classic rock to pop and original material at 7:30 p.m., Sunday. This group regularly performs in support of active-duty sailors.

VFW Post 7234 will honor the true meaning of Memorial Day at 11 a.m., Monday, May 29, with a service on the Bandstand.

For more information, go to townofbethanybeach.com.