The Coney Island Mermaid Parade was back for its 44th year on Saturday, celebrating the beachfront community and marking the unofficial start of summer in New York City.
Organized by Coney Island USA, the event is hailed as the nation's largest art parade, championing creativity and self-expression. Thousands of spectators lined Surf Avenue, where the parade started from West 21st Street and made its way to West 10th Street, before turning onto the boardwalk.
Adam Rinn, CIUSA’s artistic director, said the organization ran into major funding issues this year. The organization raised over $40,000 through a GoFundMe campaign, after a slow winter season and the years-long Coney Island casino fight.
“It was just so heartwarming to see so many people who care about this parade, and want to, you know, and want to ensure that the parade happens,” said Rinn.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso also kicked in $20,000, while New York Comic Con provided a $25,000 sponsorship.
“Looking at the people, both the people who were spectating [and] the marchers, and the joy and the gratification that that brings to them, that says the world right there,” said Rinn. “That's everything that I truly love about this parade…You have people from all walks of life standing next to each other and smiling and cheering.”
This sentiment rang true throughout the day. Linh Luu has attended the parade many times before, bringing along her dog, Chance, who has more than 30,000 followers on social media.
“I just love the creativity,” said Luu. “Every year that we’ve gone the costumes are different, the floats are different, and just the energy of everybody being so friendly and nice and happy.”
Baron Misuraca was a first-time participant in the parade, though he had been a spectator many times before.
“It was just something that I felt that I wanted to do,” said Misuraca, who also hosts CIUSA’s Cemetery Cinema program. “It's good to be in the center of the action.”
Misuraca marched in the parade this year holding up a sign that said “Scream!” hyping up the crowd. He said his favorite part was hearing people cheer in response.
“Everybody’s having a great time, you know, it’s a very special day,” he said.
