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Coney Island's Mermaid Parade May Return In The Flesh This Summer, Organizers Hope
By
Sophia Chang
Published Apr 17, 2021
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Scott Lynch / Gothamist
By
Sophia Chang
Published Apr 17, 2021
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Coney Island may see the return of its merry costumed seafolk this summer, with plans for an in-person Mermaid Parade, organizers told Brooklyn Paper this week.
The parade’s date is yet to be determined. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the outdoor march—where participants dress up as mythical sea dwellers—was held in mid-June but this year will likely be different because of the need to manage crowds and to accommodate the NYPD’s schedule of other parades and events, the Brooklyn Paper reported.
Organizer Dick Zigun of Coney Island USA told Brooklyn Paper that they will monitor the city's progress in fighting the pandemic as they plan the parade: “We need to pay attention to what everyone is paying attention to, which is the infection rates going down and vaccination rates going up,” Zigun told the paper.
The beloved cheeky event is one of the highlights of New York City summers and has taken place every year on Surf Avenue and the boardwalk for nearly 40 years. Last summer, the parade was held virtually, billed as a TAIL-A-THON.
Coney Island's rides and attractions have also returned, with local merchants hoping this summer will help them recover from the financial losses of the last year when everything shuttered during the pandemic -- one estimate has put the loss at $100 million for local businesses.
Read More: Photos: Coney Island Joyfully Reopens After 18 Month Shutdown
Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and Luna Park in Coney Island reopened April 9th, for the first time since October 19th, 2019 -- they’re running at 33% capacity, with guests mandated to socially distance, wear face coverings, get a temperature check, and purchase tickets ahead of their visit. The Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team will play their home opener May 18th as well.
Alexandra Silversmith, executive director of the Alliance for Coney Island, a public-private partnership that advocates for the community’s revitalization, said she was more optimistic about this summer: "We're really excited to have 2021 literally have laughter and screams in the air as people enjoy the rides, when it was deafening and silent last year," she told Gothamist on the day the parks reopened. "It's been such a challenging time and we've been fighting, fighting, fighting literally for almost a year now to reopen, trying to make the case that we are safe to do so."
"And now, to be able to bring people back to work, it's just great news," she added. "It's been such a rough year. So it is really, really exciting to be able to say something positive for once."
Tagged
COVID-19
coney island
mermaid parade
coronavirus
Sophia Chang
Sophia Chang is a former WNYC and Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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