Deborah Harry and Chris Stein of Blondie Named Mermaid Parade Queen and King

Coney Island USA's 35th Annual Mermaid Parade will begin at 1 pm on Saturday, June 17, 2017. 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 1,500 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.

Deborah Harry and Chris Stein of Blondie, will serve as Queen Mermaid and King Neptune, the highest position of honor in the parade. According to tradition, Queen Mermaid and King Neptune will be wheeled through the parade in an antique wicker Boardwalk Rolling Chair that dates back to 1923.

"We are in Rock & Roll heaven to announce Hall of Famers from BLONDIE: Deborah Harry as Queen Mermaid & Chris Stein as King Neptune" said Coney Island USA founder Dick Zigun, who is known as the Mayor of Coney Island and founder of The Mermaid Parade's parent organization, Coney Island USA. "Our BLONDIE King Neptune and Queen Mermaid represent authentic NYC arts from East Village CBGB punk, to current cutting edge Coney Island."

Immediately after the parade, at approximately 4 pm, Dick Zigun leads the King and Queen procession through the MCU Parking Lot, to the beach for the opening of the Ocean, for the summer swimming season.

Fans of the Mermaid Parade can lend support, with a new text fundraising campaign by texting "mermaid" to 71777, or going to www.coneyisland.com/feed

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

The assembly sites and route are as follows: PEOPLE AND PUSH/PULL FLOATS assemble at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue. ANTIQUE AUTOS will assemble at West 19th Street and Surf Avenue. MOTORIZED FLOATS will assemble at West 20th Street at Surf Avenue.

* The Parade will start at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue

* The Parade will roll east to West 10th Street

* At West 10th Street the Parade will turn south towards the boardwalk

* Cars and Motorized Floats continue down Surf Ave. passing W. 10th Street and exit the parade.

* At the Boardwalk, the marchers and push-pull floats will turn west and head towards West 17th St.

* At Steeplechase Plaza, the Parade will disband.

The Mermaid Parade was founded in 1983 by Coney Island USA, the not-for-profit arts organization that also produces the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. The Mermaid Parade pays homage to Coney Island's forgotten Mardi Gras, which lasted from 1903 to 1954 and draws from a host of other sources resulting in a wonderful and wacky event, that is unique to Coney Island.

The parade was founded to achieve three goals: bring mythology to life for local residents who live on streets named Mermaid and Neptune; create self-esteem in a district that is often disregarded; and let artistic New Yorkers find self-expression in public. Previous King Neptunes and Queen Mermaids have included Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Queen Latifah, Moby, Annabella Sciorra, Judah Friedlander, Carole Radziwill, Harvey Keitel and Daphne Keitel.

ABOUT: Coney Island USA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit arts organization based in the amusement park area of the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn New York at 1208 Surf Ave. In existence since 1980, Coney Island USA has developed and produces a number of different programs including some of New York City's best loved summer programming, such as the Mermaid Parade and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. Coney Island USA also operates the Coney Island Museum, and produces Ask the Experts, Burlesque at the Beach, Congress of Curious Peoples, Coney Island Film Society, Coney Island Film Festival, Coney Island Beard and Moustache Competition, Coney Island Hot Rod Festival, Funhouse Philosophers, Magic at Coney!!! and the Coney Island Sideshow School.

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