Coney Island Mermaid Parade

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade is an art parade held annually in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. The event, the largest art parade in the United States, is held each year in June and celebrates the arrival of the summer season. Created and produced by the non-profit arts organization Coney Island USA, the 40th annual parade was held on June 18, 2022.[4]

Coney Island Mermaid Parade
The word mermaid followed by letters for the word parade in circles
StatusActive
GenreParade
Date(s)June
FrequencyAnnually
VenueConey Island Boardwalk
Location(s)Coney Island, New York
CountryUnited States
InauguratedJune 1983 (1983-06)
FounderDick Zigun[1]
Most recentJune 18, 2022
Attendance800,000[2]
Budget$100,000[3]
WebsiteConey Island Mermaid Parade

Description
1998 Parade

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.[5]

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.[5] 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.[6][7][8]

History

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.[9][10]

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.[11][12]

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.[13]

Themes

The Mermaid Parade is known for marine costumes and occasional nudity.[14][15] There are sections in the parade for vehicles of all kinds, for floats, for groups, and for individuals. The organizers of the parade claim to encourage bribery, so that participants have a better 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.[16]

AnnualYearKing NeptuneQueen Mermaid
1st1983Al MottolaAlison Gordy
2nd1984Joe FranklinJeanne Becker
3rd1985Dan LurieSandra Frankel
4th1986John BradshawNoni
5th1987Henry SternBarbara Walz
6th1988Michael WilsonPhoebe Legere
7th1989David SmallsIlana Iguana
8th1990Mr. FashionWendy Wild
9th1991El VezLynda Barry
10th1992Richard EaganDaisy Eagan
11th1993-Karen Duffy
12th1994Jose GutierrezRosemary Di Pietra
13th1995Spyro PoulosShut-Up Shelly
14th1996Fred KahlKiva Kahl
15th1997Ron KubyJennifer Miller
16th1998David ByrneThe World Famous *BOB*
17th1999Curtis SliwaQueen Latifah
18th2000Rabbi Abraham AbrahamKatya Kahl
19th2001Hector Camacho Jr.Kembra Pfahler
20th2002Marty MarkowitzToni Senecal
21st2003Bill EvansKate Duyn
22nd2004MobyTheo Kogan
23rd2005David JohansenKarmen Guy
24th2006Abel FerraraBambi the Mermaid
25th2007Adam SavagePatti D'Arbanville
26th2008Reverend Billy TalenSavitri Durkee
27th2009Harvey KeitelDaphne Kastner
28th2010Lou ReedLaurie Anderson
29th2011Adam RichmanCat Greenleaf
30th2012Jackie "The Joke Man" MartlingAnnabella Sciorra
31st2013Judah FriedlanderCarole Radziwill
32nd2014Dante de BlasioChiara de Blasio
33rd2015Mat FraserJulie Atlas Muz
34th2016Carlo A. ScissuraHailey Clauson
35th2017Chris SteinDeborah Harry
36th2018Neil GaimanAmanda Palmer
37th2019Arlo GuthrieNora Guthrie
38th 2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19
39th 2021 Cancelled again due to COVID-19
40th2022Dave ChokshiJustin Vivian Bond
41st2023-Laurie Cumbo
Mermaid Parade through the years
  • 2004 Parade
    2004 Parade
  • 2006 Parade
    2006 Parade
  • 2007 Parade
    2007 Parade
  • 2008 Parade
    2008 Parade
  • 2009 Parade
    2009 Parade
  • 2010 Parade
    2010 Parade
  • 2011 Parade
    2011 Parade
  • 2014 Parade
    2014 Parade
  • 2018 Parade
    2018 Parade
  • 2019 Parade
    2019 Parade
  • 2022 Parade (2020 and 2021 canceled due to COVID 19)
    2022 Parade (2020 and 2021 canceled due to COVID 19)
  • 2023 Parade
    2023 Parade

See also

References
  1. "Coney Island USA Presents: The 40th Annual Mermaid Parade". Coney Island USA. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  2. Weaver, Shaye. "What to know about this year's Mermaid Parade". am New York. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  3. "Nautical weddings and more secrets of the Mermaid Parade". am New York. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  4. "Coney Island USA and the Coney Island Brewery Present: The 40th Annual Mermaid Parade | Coney Island USA". www.coneyisland.com. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  5. "Coney Island USA & Coney Island Brewery Present: The 36th Annual Mermaid Parade with co-presenter Kitchen 21 | Coney Island USA". www.coneyisland.com. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  6. "Nautical weddings and more secrets of the Mermaid Parade". am New York. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  7. "6 Fast Facts On The 34th Annual Mermaid Parade". 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  8. "Coney Island USA Presents: The 40th Annual Mermaid Parade | Coney Island USA". 2021-12-28. Archived from the original on 2021-12-28. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  9. "Biography of Dick Zigun". Coney Island USA. Unofficial Mayor of Coney Island
  10. Mooney, Jake (September 26, 2008). "What It Means to Be 'Mayor' of the Block". NY Times.
  11. Plitt, Amy (May 30, 2013). "Kickstarter success stories: Mermaid Parade, Gemini & Scorpio get funding". Time Out New York.
  12. Coney Island USA. "Save the Coney Island Mermaid from Extinction!". Kick Starter.
  13. Yakas, Ben (2021-08-18). "2021 Coney Island Mermaid Parade Canceled Because Of COVID Concerns". Gothamist. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  14. it is legal in New York State for women to be topless in public
  15. "Photos: 2010 Mermaid Parade (NSFW)". Time Out New York. June 21, 2010.
  16. "Mermaid Parade Royalty". ConeyIsland.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
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