Defending the Honor of American Popular Culture

This year has been unlike any other, and its challenges have often seemed overwhelming. Now more than ever, maintaining our connections— with families, friends, local and global communities—has been vital to sustaining our own lives and the lives of other. On #GivingTuesday, December 1, Coney Island USA is proud to stand with a network of other not-for-profits from around the world on, encouraging and inspiring people to celebrate generosity and do good.  

Although Covid-19 kept our doors closed for most of 2020, Coney Island USA still found meaningful ways to engage with our community. Together, we paid tribute to those folks on the pandemic's frontlines with our "Maskies" contest. With your support, we raised much-needed funds for local charities at our first-ever "virtual" Mermaid Parade, the Tail-A-Thon. The Coney Island Film Festival gave independent artists and filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work-virtually-at a time when all theaters remain shuttered. On Saturday,  December 5, we'll be hosting Once Upon A Time in Coney Island, an online celebration to benefit the Coney Island Museum.  

If you love Coney Island, you know the importance of Coney Island USA and our mission. For almost 40 years, we've been at the vanguard of preserving and promoting the People's Playground, paying homage to performing-art-forms of old with quirky and unique programming. We are also committed to sustaining our community, both through cultural preservation and by helping to bring the visitors that are our neighborhood's economic lifeblood.  

We know these times are not easy for anyone. Still, we ask you to please consider supporting Coney Island USA on #GivingTuesday. Your gift will help ensure that we can continue our mission of defending the honor of America's popular culture and keep the thrills and wonder alive for generations to come. 

Thank you for your support! 

Your Friends at #ConeyIslandUSA

#GivingTuesday #CovidCan'tStopGood #BrooklynStrong #NewYorkStrong #InThisTogether#StayStrong #StaySafe #StayHealthy

Thank you for tuning in today and visiting our site for further information. The Mermaid Parade is an entirely original creation of Coney Island USA (the not for profit arts organization at 1208 Surf Avenue). It is the nation's largest art parade and one of New York City's most remarkable summer events.

A celebration of ancient mythology and honky-tonk rituals of the seaside, The Mermaid Parade showcases over 3,000 creative individuals from all over the five boroughs and beyond, opening the summer with incredible art, entrepreneurial spirit, and community pride. The parade highlights Coney Island Pageantry based on a century of many Coney parades, celebrates the artistic vision of the masses, and ensures that the summer season is a success by bringing hundreds of thousands of people to the amusement area in a single day.

Beyond the Mermaid Parade our organization, Coney Island USA, exists to preserve the honor of American Popular and Amusement Culture. In the historic Childs Restaurant Building at 1208 Surf Ave, we operate the Coney Island Museum, providing insight into the history of our community from the Indigenous people who lived on these shores through to today's vibrant and dynamic neighborhood. The Coney Island Circus Sideshow, housed in the Sideshow by the Seashore Theater, is the last traditional "Ten-in-One" Circus Sideshow in the world, preserving the past of Sideshow and Variety entertainment while helping today's performers innovate within this tradition.

How can I support the organization?

Make a tax-deductible donation here!

Purchase one of a kind items from our online Gift Shop!

Join us on Zoom for our Coney Island Museum fundraiser "Once Upon a Time in Coney Island" featuring 2018 Mermaid Parade King Neptune, Neil Gaiman!

Become a member of Coney Island USA!

For further info on the Mermaid Parade, click here.