Hernando Beach arts advocate wins Golden Mermaid tourism award

Greenwell’s award was more than a plaque. It recognized a project that has helped turn Hernando Beach into a stop where visitors linger longer, browse local art and spend money with small businesses across three venues.

Florida’s Adventure Coast Visitors Bureau presented Diane Greenwell with the 2026 Golden Mermaid Award for Tourism on May 6 during a travel and tourism networking event at Broad Street Brewing Company in Brooksville. The honor, tied to National Travel and Tourism Week, recognized Greenwell for strengthening visitor experiences and cultural connections in Hernando Beach, a part of the county that tourism leaders say benefits when repeatable events bring people back.

Tourism Manager Tammy Heon said Greenwell’s work showed the area’s authentic creativity and helped create something special in Hernando Beach. The visitors bureau’s award standards reflect that same emphasis, looking for strong visitor experiences, collaboration with tourism partners and the ability to work well with the bureau itself.

Greenwell’s most visible contribution has been the First Saturdays Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk, an event founded in January 2023 with support from local residents. It began small, with just 14 people, but has grown into a monthly draw that has reached as many as 62 vendors in a single month and usually attracts around 45 to 50 vendors spread across three venues.

That growth matters for the county’s tourism economy because it signals more than attendance. More vendors mean more reasons for visitors to stop in Hernando Beach, more chances for artists and makers to sell locally, and more foot traffic for nearby restaurants, shops and service businesses that benefit when visitors stay in the area longer.

The award also points to a broader shift in how Hernando County markets itself. The Adventure Coast brand has long leaned on beaches, springs and outdoor recreation, but Greenwell’s work shows that cultural events can add another layer to the visitor mix. A recurring art walk gives the county a way to package local identity as an experience, not just a place, which is often what turns a day trip into spending that reaches small businesses.

For Hernando Beach, Greenwell’s recognition is a sign that grassroots arts programming can become a tourism asset. The award acknowledged personal dedication, but it also underscored something larger: local creativity is helping the county compete for visitors in a way that produces tangible economic value on the ground.