Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade Set for June 21, 2014

I am happy to support Coney Island USA’s Mermaid Parade! This organization and the entire area were badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy, and they are still recovering. So meet me at the parade next weekend, and let’s shake our handmade, artisanal fish tails! Here’s the full press release:

Coney Island Mermaid Parade 2014

CONEY ISLAND USA’S 2014 MERMAID PARADE SET FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 21 Dante and Chiara de Blasio to Serve as King Neptune, Queen Mermaid ——– Coney Island USA’s 32nd Annual Mermaid Parade will begin at 1 pm on Saturday, June 21, 2014. The parade starts at the corner of West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, and proceeds east on Surf Avenue to West 10th Street, where it turns south to the Boardwalk, and then north back to Steeplechase Plaza, where it concludes.

The Mermaid Parade is a unique and artistic celebration of ancient mythology and the honky-tonk seaside ritual that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the amusement district. The parade features marching bands, drill teams, floats, antique cars and some 1,500 participants dressed in hand-made costume of mermaids, sea creatures, amusement rides and Neptunes. It is the largest art parade in the nation and the largest event of the year in Coney Island.

Dante and Chiara de Blasio will serve as King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, the highest position of honor in the parade. According to tradition, King Neptune and Queen Mermaid will be wheeled through the parade in an antique wicker Boardwalk Rolling Chair that dates back to 1923.

“We are extraordinarily honored to have the participation of New York City’s first family in the parade,” said Coney Island USA founder Dick Zigun, who is known as the Mayor of Coney Island. “King Neptune and Queen Mermaid represent the young adults of New York City who are the next generation of visitors to Coney Island and Coney Island USA.”

Immediately after the parade, at approximately 5 pm, Dick Zigun leads the King and Queen procession through the MCU Parking Lot, to the beach for the opening of the Ocean, for the summer swimming season. From 6 pm – 12 am, the 12th annual Mermaid Parade Ball, the official after-party of The Mermaid Parade, will take place at MCU Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, 1904 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn.

Parade Registration, Advance Ball Tickets and additional information for the Parade and Ball, are available at: www.coneyisland.com.

The assembly sites and route are as follows: PEOPLE AND PUSH/PULL FLOATS assemble at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue. ANTIQUE AUTOS will assemble at West 19th Street and Surf Avenue. MOTORIZED FLOATS will assemble at West 20th Street at Surf Avenue. * The Parade will start at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue * The Parade will roll east to West 10th Street * At West 10th Street the Parade will turn south towards the boardwalk * Cars and Motorized Floats continue down Surf Ave. passing W. 10th Street and exit the parade. * At the Boardwalk, the marchers and push-pull floats will turn west and head towards West 17th St. * At Steeplechase Plaza, the Parade will disband.

The Mermaid Parade was founded in 1983 by Coney Island USA, the not-for-profit arts organization that also produces the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. The Mermaid Parade pays homage to Coney Island’s forgotten Mardi Gras, which lasted from 1903 to 1954 and draws from a host of other sources resulting in a wonderful and wacky event, that is unique to Coney Island.

The parade was founded to achieve three goals: bring mythology to life for local residents who live on streets named Mermaid and Neptune; create self-esteem in a district that is often disregarded; and let artistic New Yorkers find self-expression in public. Previous King Neptunes and Queen Mermaids have included Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Queen Latifah, Judah Friedlander, Carole Radziwill, Harvey Keitel and Dapne Keitel.