Coney Island's Mermaid Parade Returns to Brooklyn for First Time Since 2019

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade in Brooklyn, New York, returned on June 18 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The parade featured music and musicians and participants dressed as mermaids, umbrellas fashioned after jellyfish, and other fanciful costumes.

The event was organized by Coney Island USA, a non-profit arts organization, which claims the event is the “nation’s largest art parade,” according to their website.

“The Mermaid Parade specifically was founded in 1983 with 3 goals: it brings mythology to life for local residents who live on streets named Mermaid and Neptune ; it creates self-esteem in a district that is often disregarded as “entertainment”; and it lets artistic New Yorkers find self-expression in public,” Coney Island USA said. Credit: Emma Kozitzky via Storyful

Video transcript

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

- Oh, y'all hear that whistle. Do y'all hear those whistles?

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

[MUSIC PLAYING] (SINGING) [INAUDIBLE].

- You telling me what?

- Let's go [INAUDIBLE].

- [LAUGHING]

- Let's go, guys.

- Give us that [INAUDIBLE].

Fire it up!

- 2023, [INAUDIBLE].

- You know what's funny? [LAUGHING]

- Yeah! Whoo!

- Whoo!

- Hey!

- --is Pamela's husband-- are you looking for your baby mama?

- [INAUDIBLE].

- Pamela's husband. Although-- OK, we seen the numbers.

(SINGING) Oh no, green.

I need a--