Coney Island Mermaid Parade - June 21, 2025

Coney Island, NY — The unofficial start of summer in New York City was ushered in with a dazzling display of sea-themed creativity on Saturday, June 21, as the 43rd Annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade rolled down Surf Avenue and along the boardwalk. The event, an annual celebration of ancient mythology, seaside ritual, and artistic self-expression, drew thousands of participants and an estimated 30,000 spectators despite scorching temperatures.

The parade was led by its chosen royalty, King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, who were none other than Eugene Hütz, frontman of the Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello, and New York-based singer and performance artist Queenie Sateen. In keeping with a long-held tradition, the two were wheeled along the route in an antique wicker boardwalk rolling chair dating back to 1923, offering waves and encouragement to the elaborate procession.

The march showcased the parade's signature mix of the fantastical and the outlandish. Participants, ranging from families and local groups to dedicated artists, paraded in handmade costumes featuring everything from traditional glittering merfolk and deep-sea creatures to lobster-people, pirates, and political statements crafted into sea-shanty floats. Marching bands, drill teams, and antique cars accompanied the colorful throng, creating a sensory spectacle unique to the Brooklyn neighborhood.

The 43rd iteration of the nation's largest art parade began at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue before moving east to West 10th Street, concluding its journey west along the boardwalk to Steeplechase Plaza. For many, the highlight remains the pure, uninhibited joy and self-expression on display, proving that the parade's founding goals—to bring mythology to life, create local pride, and give artists a place for public expression—are still strongly upheld.

Following the parade's conclusion, King Neptune and Queen Mermaid led the final traditional procession down to the beach at 19th Street for the ceremonial opening of the ocean to summer swimming, officially marking the season's arrival for all New Yorkers.