Moby to Lead Mermaid Parade on Saturday

This Saturday from 2-6 pm on Coney Island is the Mermaid Parade! You know what that means? Hand made costumes and scantily clad parade marchers! The Mermaid Parade, now in it's 21st year was started as a tribute to Mardi Gras in Coney Island, a celebration that lasted from 1903-1954. Gothamist asks you, where else can you see people celebrate "the sand, the sea, the salt air and the beginning of summers, as well as the history and mythology of Coney Island, Coney Island pride, and artistic self-expression."

King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, who rule over the parade, will be played by Moby and Theo from the Lunachicks. Last year's parade was led by Bill Evans of ABC-7 and Kate Duyn who was Miss Rheingold at the time.

If the parade isn't enough Coney Island action for you, you can check out the Cyclone, eat at Nathan's Hot Dogs or go to Totonno's Pizza, which Slice visited in April. After the parade, you can even check out a Brooklyn Cyclones game.

Forgotten NY has some nice pictures of last year's rain soaked parade, but from what we see on Gothamist Weather, it looks like this year's parade will be rain free.

Related: Check out the Gothamist Interview with Julie Atlas Muz, who is a burlesque star and a mermaid.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By tien mao in Arts and Events, News on June 24, 2004 12:00 PM

Comments [rss]

jocelyn

fantastic! I got to shake Moby's hand, too, and i still think he kicks ass as an artist. Next year i'll be a mermaid!! cheers!

Parade goer

The Mermaid Parade is always the first Saturday after the summer solstice.

nagin

i hope the lunachicks perform "butt plug"

that song rocked

johanna

arrrgh, why is the mermaid parade the same weekend as pride??? i'll be spending my energy @ the dyke march instead, thanks.

Weather God

It will not be humid on Saturday. No one cares who the king and queen are. They are a minor part of the parade. Now bring on the scantily clad mermaids!

Jen

Ha! Being paid in vegan food for hauling Moby's float in the humid weather? That's fabulous!

jen

This was on Moby's site yesterday...

Teany Float To Pull

6/23/2004 - New York City

kelly and i need some people to pull the teany float (it's very light, but we need 4 volunteers). so anyone who would like to volunteer will: a-get to have fun walking around the mermaid parade and b-get a free dinner or lunch for 2 at teany

so if you're interested in helping out please contact

lazarina@earthlink.net

thanks! and hopefully i'll see you this saturday at coney island.

-moby

K. Thor Jensen

"You're attitude could be better. Ghetto is a bullshit word and a smooth insult."

And your grammar could be better, but who am I to be critical? That's so trailer park. Also Moby has herpes so if you're a flesh-displaying mermaid, might wanna stay back 5 feet.

Ghetto Buster

"It was ghetto but fun."

You're attitude could be better. Ghetto is a bullshit word and a smooth insult.

Enjoy the parade and Coney but leave the ghetto elsewhere.

c

My friends and I took part in the parade last year. We were the 99cents mermaids. Basically, everything that was on us was worth no more than 99cents. It was ghetto but fun. good times, good times.

jake

hot hot hot!!! i will sadly be in miami for a bit of a bachelor party- but i hope some of my fellow photobloggers will get out the long lenses and bring back some sweet, sweet semi-nude mermaid shots. who is down?