Open Saturdays 12pm-6pm, Sundays, 2pm-6pm!
Defending the Honor of American Popular Culture
Coney Island USA News
As 2018 draws to a close, I would like to express Coney Island USA’s gratitude for your continued support. Together we've celebrated so many important milestones, including our 35th Mermaid Parade, the centennial of our landmarked building, and our 1,000,000 Sideshow attendee. You helped us to rebuild following the destruction of Superstorm Sandy, and rallied with us to save the Mermaid Parade when it was in danger of being cancelled. Like a family, you’ve shared all of our triumphs and challenges, and we truly appreciate your loyalty.
Once again, we need your help. Last summer, a portion of the ceiling in the Freak Bar became dislodged, disrupting our busy July 4th weekend. While the need to replace the ceiling is an unlooked-for expense, it also presents us with an amazing opportunity to integrate our Arts Annex into our main operations, expanding our capacity to present more of the unique arts programming you’ve come to love. As we consult with architects and contractors, we need your support to make the dream a reality.
In this season of giving, we ask that you please consider making a year-end, tax-deductible gift to Coney Island USA. Large or small, it will make a huge difference in funding the necessary improvements required to move our organization forward.
Give here: https://coneyisland.networkforgood.com
If you’re a member, renewing now will make your membership tax-deductible for 2018. It will also allow us to plan accordingly for our ever-expanding Judges’ Stand at the annual Mermaid Parade.
Renew now at: https://coneyisland.networkforgood.com/events/6083-wanna-be-a-member
Looking ahead, plans are already underway for our annual Spring Gala in March; our Congress of Curious Peoples in April; the 37th annual Mermaid Parade on June 22; and a new and exciting cast of sideshow performers. Your support is crucial to our efforts to make Coney Island USA bigger and better as we pursue our mission to preserve the history of our neighborhood, the integrity of variety performance, and the honor of American popular culture.
Thank you again for your generosity. We wish you a very Happy New Year, and look forward to seeing you in 2019!
Wish You Were Here,
Dick Zigun
Founder and Artistic Director
Coney Island USA
A Funhouse Philosophers Special Event!
Ring in the New Year with us, your Not For Profit Arts Organization at the Beach!
Tickets are SOLD OUT! No tickets available. Thank You!
Doors open at 8pm with Half Price Draft Beer (Coney Island Brewing Mermaid Pilsner) and Wine until Midnight, for all ticket holders, at the Freak Bar! One Free Draft Beer included with admission.
-A Funhouse Philosophers Special Event-
9 PM
NEW YEAR’S EVE IN HEAVEN
Dick Zigun’s Performance-Art Challenge to Bambi The Mermaid
10 PM
Bambi’s
“The Dream Of Venus Ball”
Hosted by Chuck Varga and Bambi The Mermaid in the most magical place on earth CONEY ISLAND!! Join us as we welcome the enchanted new year at THE DREAM OF VENUS BALL! Come in costume and dream the dream! Starring: Tiny Dee, Dame Darcy, Edie Nightcrawler, David L. Byrd, Drea Lorraine, Autumn Costner, Dave Scott, Sizzle-Stephanie Dizzle And Hosted by The Great Wilfredo!!
11:15 PM
Hike to Boardwalk for Fireworks
1 AM
ZeroBoy hosts the Circus Sideshow Fire Finale featuring Circo Draconum and Nola Star!
21+ with proper I.D.
All ticket sales are non-refundable and WILL CALL only to be picked up night of performance, at our box office at 1208 Surf Avenue. TICKETS WILL NOT SHIP. There are no extra service fees for online purchase.
Save the date: November 27, 2018
Here at Coney Island USA, we are gearing up for a very BIG day in the nonprofit world: this year’s #GivingTuesday. We want to make this year’s global day of philanthropy our best yet—please join the movement and help us repair our infrastructure!
This past year for Coney Island USA has been both amazing and challenging. With our King Neil Gaiman and Queen Amanda Palmer, the 36th Mermaid Parade was a smashing success and our first Parade with our co-presenter the Coney Island Brewing Company. Our signature program, the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, had a stellar summer, seeing its 1 millionth attendee, and a vital cast of established performers and new faces. Yet with our successes through your support have come challenges, especially with our historic landmarked building.
We had a 5’X5’ portion of our ceiling in the Freak Bar come down this summer. As we have been working on this we have discovered other areas for improvement for our building overall. Our organization is facing a need to upgrade our Freak Bar area with new ceilings, integrate our Arts Annex into our main operations, and prepare our building for the decades to come. While we are actively working with contractors and architects, we need your help to make our efforts go even further!
You can help us improve our infrastructure and transform our operations. Your support is crucial to our efforts to make Coney Island USA the bigger and better as we pursue our mission to preserve the history of our neighborhood, the integrity of variety performance, and the honor of American popular amusement.
Get involved
Please help us launch #GivingTuesday with a bang. You can feel good in knowing that you are part of a world-wide movement, working to raise awareness for philanthropy, especially as we gear up for 2019.
Here’s how you can help:
- Make a contribution to Coney Island USA via Facebook. Non Facebook users can make a contribution here.
- Post a note or picture on your social media page and tag our Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter accounts . Share an #unselfie that says why you support us! The social sharing will help broaden awareness for our cause.
Won’t you join us—and show your support for Coney Island USA on #GivingTuesday?
Our online fundraising page is available now. Make a gift today or mark your calendar for November 27, 2018 and join the generous individuals across the country that participate in #GivingTuesday to show how much they care about others.
Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@coneyisland.com
Kind regards,
James Fitzsimmons
Executive Director
Coney Island USA
#GivingTuesday refers to the Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving in the United States. It is a movement to create an international day of giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season. Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation as a response to commercialization and consumerism in the post-Thanksgiving season (Black Friday and Cyber Monday). This year PayPal is partnering with Facebook and Network for Good to offer matching funds for fundraisers done through the Facebook platform. Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for details.
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Upcoming Events
Coney Island Museum
Open Saturdays 12pm-6pm, Sundays 2pm-6pm. See 2019 schedule below.
September 8, 2018 through Mid June, 2019, Saturdays 12pm - 6pm and Sundays 2pm - 6pm.
Magic at Coney!!!
Sunday, January 20, 2019 - 12:00pm
Magical Promotions, together with Coney Island USA, presents an afternoon of fun and wonder for the entire family.
Magic at Coney!!!
Sunday, January 27, 2019 - 12:00pm
Magical Promotions, together with Coney Island USA, presents an afternoon of fun and wonder for the entire family.
Magic at Coney!!!
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - 12:00pm
Magical Promotions, together with Coney Island USA, presents an afternoon of fun and wonder for the entire family.