Coney Island Mermaid Parade
Coney Island Mermaid Parade | |
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| |
Status | Active |
Genre | Parade |
Date(s) | June, 1983 |
Frequency | Annually |
Venue | Coney Island Boardwalk |
Location(s) | Coney Island, New York |
Country | United States |
Founder | Dick Zigun |
Most recent | June 16. 2018[1] |
Attendance | 800,000[2] |
Budget | $100,000[3] |
Website | Coney Island Mermaid Parade |
The Coney Island Mermaid Parade, held annually in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, is the largest art parade in the United States. The parade is held each year at the beginning of the summer season. It celebrates the arrival of the summer season. It is created and produced by the non-profit arts organization Coney Island USA. The 36th annual parade was held on Saturday, June 16, 2018.[4]
The parade
The Mermaid Parade is held in celebration of the beginning of the summer season, and traditionally takes place on the Saturday closest to the Summer solstice, June 21, regardless of weather. Its intent is to celebrate self-expression, boost pride in the Coney Island district, and give New York artists a place to display their artwork. There are no ethnic, religious, or commercial aims.[5]
The parade pays homage to the Coney Island Mardi Gras parades of the early 20th century. During this era, Coney Island was the primary amusement park destination for those in the New York area. Like the annual Village Halloween Parade, the Mermaid Parade evokes the artistic spirit of Mardi Gras.
The event typically attracts about 3,000 participants and hundreds of thousands of spectators from all five boroughs of New York.[5] Some spectators travel to Coney Island's beach to escape the heat that often occurs during the beginning of summer.[6] The mermaid parade is the largest art parade in the United States.[7][8][9]
History
The tradition began in 1983, when the first event of this kind was conceptualized and organized by Dick Zigun, who is sometimes dubbed the "Mayor of Coney Island", and who was the founder of the non-profit arts organization Coney Island USA.[10][11]
The parade of June 22, 2013 was almost canceled due to resources being consumed by the recovery from Hurricane Sandy; it was rescued from a shortfall of funding by launching a successful Kickstarter $100,000 campaign raising over $117,000.[12][13]
Themes
The Mermaid parade is known for marine costumes, occasional partial nudity,[14][15] as well as more family oriented fare. There are sections in the parade for vehicles of all kinds, for floats, for groups, and for individuals. Mermaids and sea creatures of every shape and size are represented.
Each year the Mermaid Parade features a King Neptune and Queen Mermaid.
Annual | Year | King Neptune | Queen Mermaid |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 1983 | Al Mottola | Alison Gordy |
2nd | 1984 | Joe Franklin | Jeanne Becker |
3rd | 1985 | Dan Lurie | Sandra Frankel |
4th | 1986 | John Bradshaw | Noni |
5th | 1987 | Henry Stern | Barbara Walz |
6th | 1988 | Michael Wilson | Phoebe Legere |
7th | 1989 | David Smalls | Elana Iguana |
8th | 1990 | Mr. Fashion | Wendy Wild |
9th | 1991 | El Vez | Lynda Barry |
10th | 1992 | Richard Eagan | Daisy Eagan |
11th | 1993 | - | Karen Duffy |
12th | 1994 | Jose Gutierrez | Rosemary Di Pietra |
13th | 1995 | Spyro Poulos | Shut-Up Shelly |
14th | 1996 | Fred Kahl | Kiva Kahl |
15th | 1997 | Ron Kuby | Jennifer Miller |
16th | 1998 | David Byrne | The World Famous *BOB* |
17th | 1999 | Curtis Sliwa | Queen Latifah |
18th | 2000 | Rabbi Abraham Abraham | Katya Kahl |
19th | 2001 | Hector Camacho Jr. | Kembra Pfahler |
20th | 2002 | Marty Markowitz | Toni Senecal |
21st | 2003 | Bill Evans | Kate Duyn |
22nd | 2004 | Moby | Theo Kogan |
23rd | 2005 | David Johansen | Karmen Guy |
24th | 2006 | Abel Ferrara | Bambi the Mermaid |
25th | 2007 | Adam Savage | Patti D'Arbanville |
26th | 2008 | Reverend Billy Talen | Savitri Durkee |
27th | 2009 | Harvey Keitel | Daphne Kastner |
28th | 2010 | Lou Reed | Laurie Anderson |
29th | 2011 | Adam Richman | Cat Greenleaf |
30th | 2012 | Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling | Annabella Sciorra |
31st | 2013 | Judah Friedlander | Carole Radziwill |
32nd | 2014 | Dante de Blasio | Chiara de Blasio |
33rd | 2015 | Mat Fraser | Julie Atlas Muz |
34th | 2016 | Carlo A. Scissura | Hailey Clauson |
35th | 2017 | Chris Stein | Deborah Harry |
36th | 2018 | Neil Gaiman | Amanda Palmer |
The organizers of the parade claim to encourage bribery, so that participants have a better chance to win the various costume contests, which are also part of the day's entertainment. The Coney Island Mermaid Parade inspired the Zeemeerminnenparade in The Hague, the Netherlands to organize a similar annual Mermaid Parade starting in 2010.
References
- ↑ "What to know about this year's Mermaid Parade". am New York. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ↑ "What to know about this year's Mermaid Parade". am New York. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ↑ "Nautical weddings and more secrets of the Mermaid Parade". am New York. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ↑ coney island.com website, Coney Island USA: Defending the Honor of American Popular Culture! The Mermaid Parade Accessed 2017-5-24
- 1 2 "Coney Island USA & Coney Island Brewery Present: The 36th Annual Mermaid Parade with co-presenter Kitchen 21 | Coney Island USA". www.coneyisland.com. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ↑ "Mermaid Parade makes a splash on New York's Coney Island". Mail Online. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
- ↑ "The Whimsical Mermaid Festival In New York You Don't Want To Miss". OnlyInYourState. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
- ↑ "Nautical weddings and more secrets of the Mermaid Parade". am New York. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
- ↑ "6 Fast Facts On The 34th Annual Mermaid Parade". 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
- ↑ "Biography of Dick Zigun". Coney Island USA.
Unofficial Mayor of Coney Island
- ↑ Mooney, Jake (September 26, 2008). "What It Means to Be 'Mayor' of the Block". NY Times.
- ↑ Plitt, Amy (May 30, 2013). "Kickstarter success stories: Mermaid Parade, Gemini & Scorpio get funding". Time Out New York.
- ↑ Coney Island USA. "Save the Coney Island Mermaid from Extinction!". Kick Starter.
- ↑ it is legal in New York State for women to be topless in public
- ↑ "Photos: 2010 Mermaid Parade (NSFW)". Time Out New York. June 21, 2010.
External links
Media related to Coney Island Mermaid Parade at Wikimedia Commons - Official website
- "Mermaid Parade images". NY Daily News.
- Coney Island Mermaids - Photos
- Photo essay on 2010 Mermaid Parade
- "Mermaids and Sirens". PA: Northstar Gallery.
Parades from 1998–2004