Coney Island Mermaid Parade

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade is a big, fun art parade that happens every year in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. This special event is the largest art parade in the United States and takes place each June to welcome the summer season. It was started and is put on by a non-profit group called Coney Island USA. In 2022, they celebrated the 40th annual parade on June 18.

Description

The Mermaid Parade is a fun event that happens each year on the Saturday nearest to the summer solstice, around June 21. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like! The parade is all about celebrating creativity, showing pride in Coney Island, and giving artists a chance to show their work. It isn’t about any specific group or selling things.

This parade is inspired by old-time parades from Coney Island’s Mardi Gras days, when lots of people visited the amusement parks there. Just like the Village Halloween Parade, the Mermaid Parade brings the lively spirit of Mardi Gras.

Usually, about 3,000 people join in, and hundreds of thousands of visitors come to watch from all over the boroughs of New York City. After everyone finishes marching, the parade’s founder, Dick Zigun, leads everyone to the beach for a special ceremony to welcome the summer swimming season.

History

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade started in 1983, thanks to Dick Zigun, who founded the non-profit arts group Coney Island USA. He is often called the "Mayor of Coney Island."

In 2013, the parade almost didn’t happen because of money problems after Hurricane Sandy. But people helped by using a Kickstarter campaign and a special concert, which raised enough money to save the parade.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 parade turned into a virtual event called The Tail-a-Thon. The 2021 parade was moved to September but was later canceled to be safe during the pandemic. Plans for the 2026 parade were at risk of being canceled due to money issues, but enough funds were raised to keep the parade going as planned.

Themes

The Mermaid Parade is famous for its marine costumes and fun, creative outfits. Participants can join in many ways, such as on vehicles, floats, in groups, or as individuals. There are special categories for families and artsy designs. The organizers say they encourage bribery to help everyone have a fair chance in the costume contests.

Each year, the parade has a special King Neptune and Queen Mermaid.