Coney Island – The 27th Annual MERMAID PARADE will step off at 2 PM on Saturday, June 20th 2009, incorporating several major changes that will guarantee that America’s largest “art parade” also goes down in history as the biggest parade ever in the 168 summer seasons of legendary Coney Island! Coney Island is indeed open and the Mermaid Parade is alive and well. Special highlights this year include:
- King Neptune MR. HARVEY KEITEL with his Queen Mermaid Daphna
- Recording artists, THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS performing on a float
- PHILADELPHIA MUMMERS dressed as Maine Fishermen
- MONSTER TRUCK ‘BLUE THUNDER’ performing a parade prelude
- Performers from Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey’s BOOM A RING
- New & Improved parade route beginning at Surf Ave & West 21st.
The MERMAID PARADE is an annual production of Coney Island USA, Brooklyn’s resident non-profit arts organization at the beach since 1980. Coney Island USA also produces Sideshows by the Seashore and the Coney Island Museum. The Mermaid Parade officially opens the ocean for summer swimming, teaches mythology to Brooklyn families, provides self-esteem for Coney Island and artistic self-expression for the New York City arts community. Over the years the Mermaid Parade has grown into the largest event of the year at Coney Island and it is also one of the ten biggest parades annually in New York City.
The new 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.
At 2 PM sharp there will be a pre-parade prelude featuring Feld Entertainment’s Monster Truck BLUE THUNDER racing up and down Surf Avenue between West 21st and West 10th Streets.
Immediately after the monster truck spectacular, the parade will step off at West 21st and Surf and march east down Surf Avenue; past the Judge’s Review Stand at West 12th Street then turn up West 10th Street (near the world famous Cyclone Roller Coaster) to the Boardwalk where the parade will continue West on then Boardwalk itself to the dismissal point at West 15th Street.
Immediately after the parade, approximately 6 PM; the parade concludes with a Ribbon Cutting Pageant on the beach south of West 10th Street.
At 6:30 PM a special performance of Ringling Brother’s and Barnum and Bailey’s “THE CONEY ISLAND BOOM A RING" circus will feature parade founder, Dick Zigun, as guest ringmaster. Finally, the Mermaid Parade Ball will take place at the Dreamland Skating Rink on the Boardwalk at West 21st Street with sessions at 5:30 to 8:30 or 9 PM to Midnight.
Co-sponsors: Brooklyn Cyclones, Cyclone Roller Coaster and Deno’s Wonderwheel Park. Registration and additional information are available at: www.coneyisland.com.
For more information kindly contact Dick Zigun at (718) 372-5159 or email info@coneyisland.com
--For immediate release and/or Editorial Comment—
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