This Saturday at 2 pm the Mermaid Parade will begin. This parade has been going on for almost 30 years. It was founded in 1983 by Coney Island, USA, a not for profit organization. It is a celebration of the beginning of the summer season. The parade starts at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, and ends at the boardwalk, officially opening the beach for the summer. I takes place on the Saturday closest to the calendar start of summer, rain or shine.
This Saturday's weather is definitely cooperating. Sunny with a high of 84 degrees, you can't get much better than that. Expect to see some breasts bared, because it is legal in NY, as long as it's not for business. Most have pasties, but I think there are probably some that just go full topless.
I have never been to this parade, and it is a little too much for me, crowd wise. I am not a fan of a lot of people in smaller spaces. I know, I live in NYC, and hate crowds and small spaces, why am I still here? Simple answer: I love city life.
The following pictures are from previous parades, it is amazing to see the colors and the makeup, and even in the pictures it looks like so much fun. I imagine being there would be a blast.
This year's King Neptune is Lou Reed and the Queen Mermaid is Laurie Anderson. He is best known for being in The Velvet Underground, and she is a performance artist, who also happens to be his wife.
From 2007:
After the parade ends on the boardwalk around 5 or 5:30, there is a Mermaid Ball from 6 to 11:30:
Wow! What a cool thing to see! I love you blog! I live on the left coast and desperately need to visit the right coast. Your blog gives me so many ideas to visit! :)
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that! My dd now wants to do to this parade. ;)
ReplyDeleteOMGosh that is too cool! Love your blog, it's giving me lots of ideas for things to see when we visit. :)
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