Weeki Wachee 'legends' mermaid show returns this weekend

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Everyone knows the mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs are icons of Florida that date back to the days of Elvis Presley.  But not many people know that you can see some of those legendary ladies still performing once in a while -- including this weekend.

Several times each year, Weeki Wachee Springs puts on the 'Legendary Sirens' show, which brings former mermaids back to the underwater theater to perform alongside their current-day counterparts.

"The former mermaids may have moved on in life, but the enchantment of the Weeki Wachee Spring calls them back time and again, like a dream that can’t be forgotten," the park's website explains.

The ladies are led by Vicki Smith, who's now in her 70s but delights in telling the audience that she started swimming at the park in 1957 and even performed for Elvis.

The Legendary Sirens show is scheduled for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday this holiday weekend, then won't return until Labor Day.  The modern mermaid show, meanwhile, continues several times each day. 

If you're hoping to catch either show, though, you may want to hit the road early.  A Weeki Wachee spokesman said the park has hit capacity the last several weekends, and even one some weekdays.  You may need to arrive as early as 7 a.m. to get in.

You can learn more about the current roster of mermaids along with the show schedule on the park website.  You can also get park capacity updates on their official Facebook page.

- Weeki Wachee Springs State Park website
- Weeki Wachee Springs Facebook page