Coney Island Mermaid Parade

File:1998 Coney Island Mermaid Parade.jpg

File:Mermaid Parade 2019 (27411).webm

The Mermaid Parade traditionally takes place on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice, June 21, regardless of weather. Its intent is to celebrate self-expression, boost pride in Coney Island, and give New York artists a place to display their artwork. There are no ethnic, religious, or commercial aims.{{cite web |title=Coney Island USA & Coney Island Brewery Present: The 36th Annual Mermaid Parade with co-presenter Kitchen 21 {{!}} Coney Island USA |url=https://www.coneyisland.com/programs/mermaid-parade |website=www.coneyisland.com |accessdate=25 September 2018 |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525071501/https://www.coneyisland.com/programs/mermaid-parade |url-status=dead }}

The parade pays homage to the Coney Island Mardi Gras parades of the early 20th century. During this era, Coney Island was the primary amusement park destination for those in the New York metropolitan area. Like the annual Village Halloween Parade, the Mermaid Parade evokes the artistic spirit of Mardi Gras.

The event typically attracts about 3,000 participants and hundreds of thousands of spectators from all five boroughs of New York City. After the last participant passes the reviewing stand, parade founder Dick Zigun leads the procession to the beach for a ceremony representing the opening of the ocean for the summer swimming season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.amny.com/secrets-of-new-york/secrets-of-the-coney-island-mermaid-parade-1.11835094

|title=Nautical weddings and more secrets of the Mermaid Parade

|work=AM New York Metro|access-date=2018-04-18|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/06/13/mermaid-parade-fast-facts/

|title=6 Fast Facts On The 34th Annual Mermaid Parade

|date=2016-06-13|access-date=2018-04-18|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-12-28|title=Coney Island USA Presents: The 40th Annual Mermaid Parade {{!}} Coney Island USA|url=https://www.coneyisland.com/programs/mermaid-parade|access-date=2021-12-28|website=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228021544/https://www.coneyisland.com/programs/mermaid-parade|archive-date=2021-12-28}}

The tradition began in 1983, when the first event of this kind was conceptualized and organized by Dick Zigun, the founder of the non-profit arts organization Coney Island USA, who is sometimes dubbed the "Mayor of Coney Island."{{cite web |url= http://www.coneyisland.com/per.dick.shtml |title= Biography of Dick Zigun |quote= Unofficial Mayor of Coney Island |publisher= Coney Island USA |access-date= 2007-08-17 |archive-date= 2013-04-20 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130420072435/http://coneyisland.com/per.dick.shtml |url-status= dead }}{{cite web |url= http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/what-it-means-to-be-mayor-of-the-block/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0 |title= What It Means to Be 'Mayor' of the Block |last= Mooney |first= Jake |work=The New York Times |date= September 26, 2008}}

The parade of June 22, 2013, was almost canceled due to a lack of money and resources following the recovery from Hurricane Sandy. It was rescued through a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $117,000, more than the $100,000 goal.{{cite web |url= http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/kickstarter-success-stories-mermaid-parade-gemini-scorpio-get-funding |title= Kickstarter success stories: Mermaid Parade, Gemini & Scorpio get funding |first= Amy |last= Plitt |date= May 30, 2013 |publisher= Time Out New York |access-date= March 17, 2014 |archive-date= March 9, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160309121620/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/kickstarter-success-stories-mermaid-parade-gemini-scorpio-get-funding |url-status= dead }}{{cite web |url= https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/377116752/save-the-coney-island-mermaid-from-extinction |title= Save the Coney Island Mermaid from Extinction! |author= Coney Island USA |publisher= Kick Starter}}

The 2020 parade was replaced by a virtual event (The Tail-a-Thon) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The parade was delayed in 2021 to September 12 (marking the last weekend that lifeguards would be on duty at Coney Island) in order to improve the chances that it could be held, but on August 18 it was announced that the parade would be cancelled out of an abundance of caution due to a resurgence of COVID-19 in the region.{{Cite web|last=Yakas|first=Ben|date=2021-08-18|title=2021 Coney Island Mermaid Parade Canceled Because Of COVID Concerns|url=https://gothamist.com/|access-date=2021-08-18|website=Gothamist|language=en}}

The Mermaid Parade is known for marine costumes and occasional nudity.it is legal in New York State for women to be topless in public{{cite web |url= http://www.timeout.com/newyork/own-this-city-blog/photos-2010-mermaid-parade-nsfw |title= Photos: 2010 Mermaid Parade (NSFW) |date= June 21, 2010 |publisher= Time Out |access-date= March 17, 2014 |archive-date= December 4, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141204073406/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/own-this-city-blog/photos-2010-mermaid-parade-nsfw |url-status= dead }} There are sections in the parade for vehicles of all kinds, for floats, for groups, and for individuals. There are also family friendly and artsy categories. The organizers of the parade claim to encourage bribery, to give participants a more equal chance to win the various costume contests which are also part of the day's entertainment.

Each year the Mermaid Parade features a King Neptune and Queen Mermaid.{{cite web |url=https://www.coneyisland.com/mermaid-parade-royalty |title=Mermaid Parade Royalty |website=ConeyIsland.com |access-date=2023-08-15}}

{{Gallery

| title = Mermaid Parade through the years

| captionstyle =

||3=File:Mermaid parade 2004.jpg|4=2004 Parade|5=File:Coney Island Mermanmobile 2006.jpg|6=2006 Parade|7=File:Mermaid Parade 2007 Squids.jpg|8=2007 Parade|9=File:Mermaid Parade 2008-61 (2602734488).jpg|10=2008 Parade|11=File:Oddly Happy Mermaid.jpg|12=2009 Parade|13=File:Mermaid Parade Coney IslandJPG.JPG|14=2010 Parade|15=File:Coney Island Mermaid Parade 2011 006.jpg|16=2011 Parade|17=File:Silver at Mermaid Parade 2014 CI jeh.jpg|18=2014 Parade|19=File:Mermaid Parade (61042).jpg|20=2018 Parade|21=File:Mermaid Parade 2019 (28026).jpg|22=2019 Parade|23=File:Mermaid Parade 2022 (84913).jpg|24=2022 Parade (2020 and 2021 canceled due to COVID 19) |25=File:2023 Coney Island Mermaid Parade - 1232.jpg |26=2023 Parade|27=File:2024 Coney Island Mermaid Parade sharks - 0256.jpg |28= 2024 Parade

}}

• Julián Is a Mermaid

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Coney Island Mermaid Parade}}
• {{official website|https://www.coneyisland.com/mermaidparade}}
• {{cite web |url= https://www.google.com/images?newwindow=1&sa=1&q=site%3Anydailynews.com+%22mermaid%20parade%22 |title= Mermaid Parade images |publisher= NY Daily News }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130610010406/http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/mermaids/28.html Coney Island Mermaids - Photos]
• [http://confessionsvelvetropes.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/06/the-mermaid-parade-in-coney-island-june-19-2010-photos-by-glenn-belverio.html Photo essay on 2010 Mermaid Parade]
• {{cite web |url= http://northstargallery.com/pages/mermaidhome.htm |title= Mermaids and Sirens |publisher= Northstar Gallery |location= PA |quote= Parades from 1998–2004 |access-date= 2014-03-17 |archive-date= 2007-04-27 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070427214826/http://northstargallery.com/pages/MermaidHome.htm |url-status= dead }}

Category:Articles containing video clips

Coney Island Mermaid Parade

Mermaid Parade

Category:Recurring events established in 1983

Category:Summer events in the United States

Category:1983 establishments in New York City