Coney Island Mermaid Parade

Last updated
Coney Island Mermaid Parade
Logo of the. Coney Island Mermaid Parade.jpg
StatusActive
GenreParade
Date(s)June
FrequencyAnnually
Venue Coney Island Boardwalk
Location(s) Coney Island, New York
CountryUnited States
InauguratedJune 1983 (1983-06)
Founder Dick Zigun [1]
Most recentJune 22, 2024
Attendance800,000 [2]
Budget$100,000 [3]
Website 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]

Contents

Description

1998 Parade 1998 Coney Island Mermaid Parade.jpg
1998 Parade
Video from the 2019 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. 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. [16]

AnnualYearKing NeptuneQueen Mermaid
1st1983Al MottolaAlison Gordy
2nd1984 Joe Franklin Jeanne Becker
3rd1985 Dan Lurie Sandra Frankel
4th1986John BradshawNoni
5th1987 Henry Stern Barbara Walz
6th1988Michael Wilson Phoebe Legere
7th1989David SmallsIlana Iguana
8th1990Mr. Fashion Wendy Wild
9th1991 El Vez Lynda Barry
10th1992Richard Eagan Daisy Eagan
11th1993- Karen Duffy
12th1994Jose GutierrezRosemary Di Pietra
13th1995Spyro PoulosShut-Up Shelly
14th1996Fred KahlKiva Kahl
15th1997 Ron Kuby Jennifer Miller
16th1998 David Byrne The World Famous *BOB*
17th1999 Curtis Sliwa Queen Latifah
18th2000Rabbi Abraham AbrahamKatya Kahl
19th2001 Hector Camacho Jr. Kembra Pfahler
20th2002 Marty Markowitz Toni Senecal
21st2003 Bill Evans Kate Duyn
22nd2004 Moby Theo Kogan
23rd2005 David Johansen Karmen Guy
24th2006 Abel Ferrara Bambi the Mermaid
25th2007 Adam Savage Patti D'Arbanville
26th2008 Reverend Billy Talen Savitri Durkee
27th2009 Harvey Keitel Daphne Kastner
28th2010 Lou Reed Laurie Anderson
29th2011 Adam Richman Cat Greenleaf
30th2012 Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling Annabella Sciorra
31st2013 Judah Friedlander Carole Radziwill
32nd2014 Dante de Blasio Chiara de Blasio
33rd2015 Mat Fraser Julie Atlas Muz
34th2016Carlo A. Scissura Hailey Clauson
35th2017 Chris Stein Deborah Harry
36th2018 Neil Gaiman Amanda Palmer
37th2019 Arlo Guthrie Nora Guthrie
38th2020Cancelled due to COVID-19
39th2021Cancelled again due to COVID-19
40th2022 Dave Chokshi Justin Vivian Bond
41st2023- Laurie Cumbo
42nd2024 Joe Coleman Whitney Ward

See also

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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 Metro . Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  3. ↑ "Nautical weddings and more secrets of the Mermaid Parade". AM New York Metro . 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. Archived from the original on 2019-05-25. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  5. 1 2 "Coney Island USA & Coney Island Brewery Present: The 36th Annual Mermaid Parade with co-presenter Kitchen 21 | Coney Island USA". www.coneyisland.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "Nautical weddings and more secrets of the Mermaid Parade". AM New York Metro . 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. Archived from the original on 2013-04-20. Retrieved 2007-08-17. Unofficial Mayor of Coney Island
  10. ↑ Mooney, Jake (September 26, 2008). "What It Means to Be 'Mayor' of the Block". The New York Times .
  11. ↑ Plitt, Amy (May 30, 2013). "Kickstarter success stories: Mermaid Parade, Gemini & Scorpio get funding". Time Out New York. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  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. June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Mermaid Parade Royalty". ConeyIsland.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
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