Coney Island's 33rd Annual Mermaid Parade Set for 6/20

Coney Island USA's 33rd Annual Mermaid Parade will begin at 1pm on Saturday, June 20, 2015. The parade starts at the corner of West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, and proceeds east on Surf Avenue to West 10th Street, where it turns south to the Boardwalk, and then north back to Steeplechase Plaza, where it concludes.

The Mermaid Parade is a unique and artistic celebration of ancient mythology and the honky-tonk seaside ritual that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the amusement district. The parade features marching bands, drill teams, floats, antique cars and some 3,000 participants dressed in hand-made costume of mermaids, sea creatures, amusement rides and Neptunes. It is the largest art parade in the nation and the largest event of the year in Coney Island.

Mat Fraser (FX Channel's American Horror Story: Freak Show) and Julie Atlas Muz (Whitney Biennial Artist, Actress, Burlesque Performer) will serve as King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, the highest position of honor in the parade. According to tradition, King Neptune and Queen Mermaid will be wheeled through the parade in an antique wicker Boardwalk Rolling Chair that date back to 1923.

"This year the parade is proud to promote home grown royalty who have moved beyond Coney acclaim to national arts prominence: King Neptune Mat Fraser, a star of AMERICAN HORROR STORY Freak Show and Queen Mermaid Julie Atlas Muz, one of the top burlesque stars in the USA.", said Coney Island USA founder Dick Zigun, who is known as the Mayor of Coney Island.

Immediately after the parade, at approximately 4 pm, Dick Zigun leads the King and Queen procession from the reviewing stand on West 20th Street through the MCU Park Parking Lot, to the beach for the opening of the Ocean, for the summer swimming season.

Parade Registration and additional information are available at: www.coneyisland.com.