Scales, Sass, And Sea Queens: The 2025 Coney Island Mermaid Parade Returns This Weekend

Name: Times Square
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Get ready to shake your tail fin as the 2025 Coney Island Mermaid Parade is returning to NYC this weekend! The Shell-abration has been a Coney Island tradition since 1983, drawing inspiration from the Coney Island Mardi Gras parades. Today, it’s the largest art parade in the country . The annual affair “showcases the creativity of individuals from the five boroughs and beyond. It opens the summer with a true celebration of incredible art, NYC’s entrepreneurial spirit, and our community pride. It also ensures a successful summer season by drawing hundreds of thousands of people to the amusement area, providing an economic boost to local businesses,” writes the producers of the parade, Coney Island USA. 2025 Coney Island Mermaid Parade date ------------------------------------- The 43rd annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade will make a splash on Saturday, June 21st, 2025 at 1pm . 2025 Coney Island Mermaid Parade route -------------------------------------- The parade route will begin on West 21st and Surf Avenue. Mermaids and other Mer-folk will head towards West 10th Street, reaching the Boardwalk and continuing on to Steeplechase Plaza, under the Parachute Jump. Once the parade disbands around 4pm, an official ceremony will be held on the beach to open Coney Island’s beach for summer swimming. Here’s a map of the parade. How to participate in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade ----------------------------------------------------- You can judge, spectate, volunteer or don your tail and march. For those interested in judging the Mermaid Parade, you can learn more here. Otherwise, register to march here. What to expect -------------- * Mermaid Parade royalty (Queen Mermaid and King Neptune) * Push-pull floats * Antique cars * Motorized floats * Costumes * Marching bands Best place to view the Mermaid Parade ------------------------------------- * Boardwalk (limited view of only the marchers and push-pull floats) * Surf Avenue (includes antique cars and motorized floats) Be prepared to face massive crowds as Coney Island USA warns it gets as crowded as Times Square on New Year’s Eve. If you don’t plan to stay for the full parade, it’s advised you remain on the North side of Surf Avenue. Source: https://secretnyc.co/2025-coney-island-mermaid-parade-nations-largest-art-parade/