22ND ANNUAL MERMAID PARADE A SUN-DRENCHED SUCCESS!
King Moby and Queen Theo Reign Triumphant over Proceedings
June 26, 2004

Mermaid Parade Home

Check out our Sponsors!

Find out about Sponsoring the Parade

2004 Mermaid Parade Winners

Read about the 2003 Mermaid Parade

As in past years, Parade participants lined up at West 10th Street by the Cyclone, headed down the Boardwalk to West 16th Street where they turned off the Boardwalk and headed towards Surf Avenue. There they were joined by Motorized Floats and Antique Cars as the whole procession headed east along Surf past the Reviewing Stand, to the dispersal point at West 10th Street. In all, more than 200 units and 40 antique cars promenaded along the Parade Route accounting for almost 1,000 marchers.

The parade started promptly at 2:10 PM with the Officialy Unelected Mayor of Coney Island, Dick Zigun, banging his own drum as he strode out onto the Boardwalk leading the procession of Mermaids, Neptunes, Sea Creatures, Marching Groups, Bands and other aquatic and nautical creations. Dick was met at 16th and Surf by our own Boro President, and Brooklyn's Favorite Cheerleader, the Hawaiian shirt-wearing Marty Markowitz, who escorted Dick along the rest of the route.

At the Reviewing Stand, the long-time Voices of the Mermaid Parade, WFMU Radio DJ Chris T and Brooklyn's Beloved Karaoke Lady, Kay Sera, held sway, narrating, interrogating and occasionally terrorizing the participants with their insightful comments and witty quips. Chief Justice Mark Alhadeff wrangled the Judges and managed to produce a list of winners which, once again, will provide fodder for wintertime debate for a number of years. VIEW A LIST OF 2004 PARADE WINNERS

Just some of the many, many, many highlights of the Parade included an appearance by 1994's Queen Mermaid Rosemary DiPietra as the Star Spangled Mermaid, Kate Dale as the Hula Mermaid riding Honu the Sea Turtle, the multiple King Tut Neptunes, the Sea Horse driven Carousel of Wet Dreams and the anti-arena group, The Brooklynites and the Shark of the Covenant. King Moby and Queen Theo, pushed along the Parade Route in their Royal Rolling Chair surveyed the proceedings with dignity and grace, greeting the assembled throngs in Royal fashion, despite a number of poorly bred Spectators' attempts to shanghai them with business cards and other untoward proposals along the route.

After a brief address to the crowd at the end of the Parade, our King and Queen then lead the procession from the Reviewing Stand down 10th Street, across the Boardwalk and down the Beach through the Ribbon Cutting Pageant. As the King and Queen, surrounded by a veritable locust swarm of clicking cameras and whirring auto-winders, cut through the ribbons representing each season, the mercury in the Ceremonial Thermometer rose; and when they cut "Summer" ribbon, fruit was tossed into the Ocean to appease the Gods, the Key opened the Atlantic for the Summer Swimming Season, and there was a rush as scrambled to jump into the water for the First Swim of the Summer. "Wow," said King Moby at a later, quieter moment, "That was really intense", reflecting upon the crush of cameras surrounding the Ribbon Cutting Pageant. "I thought it was cool," remarked Queen Theo. Our Queen also took a moment to remind Dick that he accused her and her band of breaking something in the dressing room after a show in the mid-80s, but that's another story...

After a short Federally mandated cooling off period, Parade participants, spectators, and staff that could still stand mingled with unruly Cyclones fans at Peggy O'Neill's for the Second Annual Mermaid Parade Ball. The Ball featured performances by Bambi the Mermaid, Little Brooklyn and Bunny Love. Music was graciously provided by the DJ Cloud People, the Scurvy Pirates and the incomparable Fisherman's Vibraphonic Orchestra. And Chesapeake Bay's Finest, Lobster Boy, and his troupe, managed to hold the whole thing together.

Everyone had such a good time, that during a group meeting of 250,000 people, in a voice vote, it was decided unanimously to do it again next year! Tentative date for the 2005 Mermaid Parade is June 25! Start planning your costumes now!

ADDENDUM: After the Parade, Inspector Scholl of the 60th Precinct told us that there was no trouble, no arrests and no summonses as a result of the Parade and commended Coney Island USA, the participants and the spectators for taking part in such a great event! Great job everyone!

This is the route of the 2004 Mermaid Parade. Check-in and walk-in/push-pull float registration occurs at West 10th Street by the Cyclone. Check-in and registration for antique cars occurs at West 15th Street south of Surf Avenue. Check-in and Registration for Motorized Floats is at West 16th Street north of Surf Avenue. We will be posting the 2005 map and information in March when Early Registration begins. Check back then for updates!

2004 MERMAID PARADE WINNERS

Mermaid
1) 10 - The Good Fortunes
2) 11 - Star Spangled Mermaid
3) 101 - A Mermaid for All Season
Honorable Mention: 68 - Princess Bride Mermaid

Neptune
1) 167 - Rape of Europa Guy
2) 21 - The Dad of "Mer-Dad and Sea-Shell Girls"
3) 71 - Hell-vis

Little Mermaid
1) 25 - Mommy Mermaid
2) 27 - Tisdale Fish
3) 152 - Lisa Purdon/Coy Garrett

Little Neptune
1) 136 - Eamon Rush
2) 445 - Hearse Guy
3) 49 - Lorelei and Zyphia

Sea Creature
1) 149 - Pink, Inc. Anemones
2) 8A - Venus the FeeJee Mermaid  
3) 5 - Kimble Mead

Motorized Float
1) 447 - The Gull Wing Door Vehicle (Lewis Silver)
2) 366 - The Coral Room
3) 121 - The Dead Sea

Push-Pull Float
1) 79 - My Big Fat Deep Sea Wedding
2) 88 - Brooklynites and the Shark of the Covenant
3) 132 - Cookie's Nest Pirate Booty

Music
1) 88 - Brooklynites and the Shark of the Covenant
2) 15 - Hungry Marching Band
3) 65 - The Brooklyn Bombshell Mermaids

Marching Group
1) 65 - The Brooklyn Bombshell Mermaids
1) 76 - It's Electric!
3) 148 - Pirating Democracy