The Mermaid Parade is the nation's largest art parade, and one of New York City's greatest summer events. It was created by CIUSA’s former Artistic Director, Dick Zigun, and is produced by Coney Island USA, the 501 (c)(3) not for profit arts organization located in the heart of Coney Island’s iconic amusement district.

Founded in 1983, the Mermaid Parade pays tribute to a century of Coney Island ingenuity, revelry, and pageantry by celebrating the artistic vision of the masses. With everything from a crowned King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, fantastical sea creatures and mer-folk, marching bands and dancing groups, to baby strollers and mechanized floats,

The Parade starts at 1pm, rain or shine, on West 21st and Surf Avenue. It rolls east to West 10th Street, where the marchers and push-pull floats proceed to the Boardwalk and continue their march to Steeplechase Plaza, under the Parachute Jump, where the Parade will disband. Click here for the route map.

After the parade, usually around 4pm, there’s a procession led from the Judge’s stands at 19th Street and Surf Avenue, through Maimonides Park Parking lot, to the beach. Marchers and spectators are welcome to join. Marchers can join the procession from the end of the parade route under the Parachute Jump. On the beach, the official beach ceremony will take place, and the ocean will be opened for the summer swimming season.

Parade at 1pm: Catch the summer’s hottest Brazilian samba reggae heat as ***Fogo Azul*** drums along Surf Ave. to W 10th St. and onto the Boardwalk to Steeplechase Plaza, then all the way to the beach and into the waves!