The Coney Island Mermaid Parade Saturday, June 24, 2006 Written and photographed by Melinda Maclean

At 2 o'clock on Saturday, June 24th, the rain, which had been threatening all week, let up just long enough for the anxious, camera ready crowd to take in the home-made exotic sights and sounds of the annual Mermaid Parade. The Parade was started in 1983 by Coney Island USA, the non-profit organization which also runs the popular Coney Island Sideshow Circus. This year the film director, Abel Ferrara, acted in the role of King Neptune presiding over the cardboard sea-weed and glitter covered revelers. Men, women, children and even dogs were decked out in striking and imaginative costumes which illustrated themes of the sea and Coney Island history. The parade is trying to bring back a bit of the Mardi Gras tradition, which was actually celebrated in Coney Island from 1903 to 1954. 

The parade started on Surf Avenue and made its way up to the Boardwalk. I chose to stand on Surf Avenue behind one of the many police barricades to try and get some close-up photos of the amazing costumes. The antique cars started things off with loud engines and brightly polished hood ornaments. There was a truck decked out as the shark from Jaws. A black car, baring the banner Hollywoodland, was filled with silent film star who enacted scenes for the crowd as they passed. One couple participating in the parade got married right there on Surf Avenue as the parade made it's way onto the Boardwalk. There were big dogs dressed as cowboys and little pugs made up to look like sea sprites.

The Mermaid Parade gives people a chance to use their artistic license and imagination and show their love for Coney Island. A slight drizzle covered the tail end of the proceedings, but the whole event felt warm and life-affirming, like one big whacky dysfunctional family come together to pay homage to the real city by the sea.