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The annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade is on Saturday
By
Ryan Kailath
Published Jun 20, 2024
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Photo by Lou Hochman / Gothamist
By
Ryan Kailath
Published Jun 20, 2024
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The Coney Island Mermaid Parade returns to Surf Avenue on Saturday, kicking off at 1 p.m.
The annual festival has been running since 1983. It took a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, making this the 42nd edition of floats and marchers in extravagant costumes and sometimes nothing at all.
“It’s just such a wacky, offbeat type of thing,” said Adam Rinn, artistic director of Coney Island USA, the nonprofit organization that puts on the parade.
The honorary heads of this year's parade — known as King Neptune and Queen Mermaid in carnival parlance — are husband and wife Joe Coleman and Whitney Ward, two longtime parade performers and artists.
“I’ve been a fan of Joe’s for over 30 years,” Rinn said. “I first saw his art in a horror movie magazine back in the '80s and it was like – I gotta dig this guy up, who is he?”
Previous parade royalty has included Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson, Harvey Keitel and Daphne Kastner, and the (not-married) duo of Curtis Sliwa and Queen Latifah.
Artists Joe Coleman and his wife Whitney Ward are this year's King Neptune and Queen Mermaid.
Courtesy Coney Island USA
Online registration to march in the parade is closed, though there is day-of cash registration, which starts at $25 for child marchers and increases depending upon the participant.
Attendance as a spectator, however, is completely free — although reserved seats at the judge’s stand, which has its own bathrooms and food, go for $200. Over 200,000 revelers attended last year's parade, Rinn said.
“This is going to be the comeback year since COVID,” Rinn said. “The neighborhood buzz, the neighborhood vibe… the numbers are out there.”
When does it start?
The parade steps off at 1 p.m., and day-of registration starts at 10 a.m., but the party kicks off much earlier. Rinn advises getting there early and warns that the roads close at 9 a.m.
Where is it?
The parade lineup starts at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue and marches east to West 10th Street over several hours. From there, it heads south to the boardwalk, where the parade officially ends.
Spectators are allowed to join the procession from the parade route under the Parachute Jump. Afterward, some participants and spectators may race to the beach to kick off summer swimming season.
How’s the weather?
As you may have heard, we're experiencing a literal heat wave this week. But temperatures will dip slightly on Saturday and Coney Island is forecast to be cooler than much of the city, with highs in the mid-80s and potential light rain in the late afternoon. The parade happens rain or shine.
What about road closures?
Trains to Coney Island are scheduled to run as normal, though the MTA updates with service changes on its website here.
The following street closures will be in effect, per the city’s Department of Transportation.
Formation
- West 21st Street between Neptune Avenue and Boardwalk
- West 22nd Street between Neptune Avenue and Boardwalk
- West 23rd Street between Neptune Avenue and Dead End
- Surf Avenue between West 21st Street and West 24th Street
Route
- Surf Avenue between West 21st Street and West 10th Street
- West 10th Street between Surf Avenue and Boardwalk
Festival
- Stillwell Avenue between Surf Avenue and Boardwalk
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Ryan Kailath
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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