Mermaid Parade Marching Information

The 44th Annual Mermaid Parade
June 20, 2026

Advance registration is now closed

Day-of registration opens at 10am on Parade day and is CASH ONLY.
Day-of registration is at the same location as Parade check-in- W 21st and Surf Ave.

Parade Day Check-in & Registration | Judging and Bribes | FAQs

Registration Rates & Information

In the registration form, Family Marchers and Artsy Marchers can choose whether they’re a group leader, part of a group, or an individual marcher.

Day of rates are Cash Only.
Family Marcher Adult
$35 in advance, $40 day of
Family Marcher Child (under 12)
$20 in advance, $25 day of
Family Push-Pull Float
$40 in advance, $50 day of
The family-friendly assembly site will have moderate noise and no nudity.
Day of rates are Cash Only.
Artsy Marcher Adult
$35 in advance, $40 day of
Artsy Marcher Child (under 12)
$20 in advance, $25 day of
Artsy Push-Pull Float
$40 in advance, $50 day of
This is an adult assembly site where one can be loud and outrageous and/or take off most of their clothes.
Day of rates are Cash Only.
$150 in advance, $200 day of
Day of rates are Cash Only.
Antique Car
(See insurance note below)
$60 in advance, $70 day of
An Antique Car Accompanied by Adult Marcher(s)
(See insurance note below)
$35 in advance, $40 day of, each marcher
An Antique Car Accompanied by Child Marcher(s) (under 12)
(See insurance note below)
$20 in advance. $25 day of, each marcher
Motorized Float
(See insurance note below)
$250 in advance, $300 day of
Motorized Float Accompanied by Adult Marcher(s)
(See insurance note below)
$35 in advance, $40 day of, each marcher
Motorized Float Accompanied by Child Marcher(s) {under 12)
(See insurance note below)
$20 in advance, $25 day of, each marcher.
Flatbed Truck - Please Note: There is a 20 person capacity on Flatbed Trucks.
(See insurance note below)
$300 in advance, $350 day of
Flatbed Truck Accompanied by Adult Marcher(s)
(See insurance note below)
$35 in advance, $40 day of, each marcher.
Flatbed Truck Accompanied by Child Marcher(s) {under 12)
(See insurance note below)
$20 in advance, $25 day of, each marcher.
Insurance Note:
By registering I acknowledge that I will provide proof of vehicle insurance, registration and valid driver's license for any motorized vehicle that I will be operating in the Mermaid Parade. I also acknowledge that if I arrive without the documentation mentioned above, I will not be allowed to participate and my entry fees will not be refunded. I also acknowledge the fact that the Mermaid Parade carries liability insurance for spectators at the parade but participants are fully responsible for their own behavior. Neither the parade's producer, Coney Island USA; nor it's sponsors, employees or affiliates are responsible or can be held liable for any damage or personal injury occurring during or as a result of the Mermaid Parade.
$55 in advance, $65 day of
There will be 120 photographer staging area passes sold. 60 will be sold in advance and 60 will be sold on site.
All passes are sold on a first come, first serve basis. We recommend buying in advance.
Get an inside ticket to the Staging Area on West 21st and Surf Avenue, before the Parade, for the best shots!
Please Note: This is NOT a press pass for the Parade and it DOES NOT give you access to walk along the parade's street route. Press Passes are only obtainable by working members of the press, from the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. Details, click here.
The Mermaid Parade will no longer allow Motorcycles on the parade route.
Riding on top of buses WITHOUT guard rails is prohibited. Buses with handrails cannot have more than 5 participants on roof, without prior permission.
Horses, or other animals, are only allowed in the parade with special permission from Parade Management.

Non- Commercial:
My/our entry is not associated with any commercial or for-profit organization and will not include any sort of signage, clothing, or any other decoration promoting any sort of commercial or for-profit organization. If your entry is associated with any sort of commercial or for-profit interest, and that includes everything from bars and restaurants to large corporations, we encourage you to participate in the parade. However, you need to participate as a sponsor at a different rate. Check out our sponsorship page for more information.

Filming/Taping/Recording/Etc.: My/our entry will not be filming, taping or recording the Mermaid Parade experience for any commercial purpose, including advertising, movies, videos, web broadcasts, podcast or any other future form of recordation. The Mermaid Parade is owned and produced by Coney Island USA. Any broadcast, transmission or other use of recordings or impressions taken of the Mermaid Parade without the written consent of Coney Island USA is prohibited. Participants looking to use footage for commercial purposes should contact Coney Island USA at info@MermaidParade.com.

Be sure to follow the Mermaid Parade on social media to be the first to know about any announcements.

Parade Day Check-in & Day of Parade Registration Information

Check-in/Registration for floats, antique cars, and marchers is in the parking lot on Surf Avenue between 21st & 22nd streets from 10 am-1 pm. The Parade kicks off at 1pm!
Address for the check-in area: 3050 W21st St, Brooklyn, NY 11224

Floats line up on Surf Avenue between 24th street & 22nd street
Antique Cars line up on Surf Avenue between 21st & 22nd streets

Push-pull cart marchers- you won’t be able to pull up your truck or vehicle to unload materials or costumes

Marchers are able to register on the day of the Parade, but it is highly recommended Marchers register online, in advance. Click here for online registration. On-site registration will open at 10AM and is CASH ONLY

Parade Route

Click here for a Google Maps version of the map.

The Parade starts on West 21st and Surf Avenue. It rolls east to West 10th Street, where the marchers and push-pull floats proceed to the Boardwalk and continue their march to Steeplechase Plaza, under the Parachute Jump, where the Parade will disband.

After the parade, usually around 4pm, there’s a procession led from the Judge’s stands at Surf Ave between W 15th St and W 16th St, through Maimonides Park Parking lot, to the beach. Marchers and spectators are welcome to join. Marchers can join the procession from the end of the parade route under the Parachute Jump. On the beach, the official beach ceremony will take place, and the ocean will be opened for the summer swimming season.

Judging and Bribes

Marchers can pause by the Judge’s Stand, located on Surf Ave between W 15th St and W 16th St across from Maimonides Park, for an opportunity to have their costumes reviewed by the Parade’s esteemed panel of Judges.

The Judges will be looking for the best: mermaid costume, Neptune costume, little mermaid costume, little Neptune costume, motorized float, push-pull float, music group, marching group, and sea creature.

(Make sure to have your marching numbers visible so the Judges know who you are)

Some marchers have sweetened the deal by bribing the Judges. Historically, bribes have come in all shapes and sizes, edible and non-edible, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Bribes are an opportunity for a little extra credit creativity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check In/Registration - Check in/Registration for floats, antique cars, and marchers is in the parking lot on Surf Avenue between 21st & 22nd streets from 10am-1pm.
The line up for Floats and Antique Cars:
Floats line up on Surf Avenue between 24th street & 22nd street, Antique Cars line up on Surf Avenue between 21st & 22nd streets
Because West 21st Street is narrow, you will NOT be able to PULL YOUR TRUCK OR VEHICLE to unload materials for assembling your push-pull cart or costume. But, DON’T WORRY- you will be able to assemble your cart in a secure location with vehicle access on Surf Avenue between West 21st and West 22nd Street. You may then push your cart on to West 21st Street.
If your float is motorized in any way (is a car, is attached to a car, is a school bus, a golf cart, an ATV…) it will not be going on the boardwalk. In which case, as long as it fits on Stillwell Ave, you’re good to go.
According to many-time Queen Mermaid Kate Dale, dimensions for push-pull floats should follow these rules of thumb:
Much like the motorized floats, on Stillwell Ave you shouldn’t have any problem. BUT getting onto the boardwalk is where you need to be careful.
Width - The narrower of the ramps on W 10th St is 9' wide to the inside of the rail, but no more than 6' of width is recommended and 5'6" would be preferable. Going from the street to the ramp are barriers with a 10’ opening. There is a small turn the float would have to make to go from the street, between the barriers, and onto the ramp.
Slope - The steeper of the ramps is approximately 5" to 1' incline, so people should prepare for that in terms of weight and tippage.
End of Parade - The parade ends at the Parachute jump, but if you go a little further down, there’s a ramp behind the Carousell on West 16th street that will take you to Surf Ave.
Finally - Conditions change, so it's always best to walk the route with a tape measure yourself.
Antique Cars will drive down Surf Ave. past 10th Street and then depart along Surf Ave.
Motorized Floats will roll down Surf Ave., past West 10th Street.
As with last year, the following restrictions are in place:
1) All cars must show proof of insurance
2) No one may burn rubber or spin tires. This comes directly from the NYPD. Please do not burn rubber or spin tires, or you will be taken out of line and issued a summons. That's a bad way to end a good day.
3) No one is permitted to ride on the hood of a vehicle or in a trunk. Sorry. Again, straight from the police.
4) No one is permitted to drink alcohol in a motorized float.
The Mermaid Parade has no size restrictions for floats, they just need to be “street legal". Please note the NYPD Highway unit inspects all vehicles before the parade (license, registration, insurance, etc).
The normal restrictions for vehicles in NYC are 35' length restriction for a single body vehicle (buses can go to 45'); 53' for tractor-trailers (or pulled flatbeds), 8.5 feet width limit; 13.5 feet height restriction (this may apply to the boat). Anything over that would need an "over-dimensional permit" from NYC DOT (info available here).
Please Note: The Mermaid Parade does not allow Motorcycles on the parade route.
Riding on top of buses WITHOUT guard rails is prohibited. Buses with handrails cannot have more than 5 participants on roof, without prior permission.
Horses, or other animals, are only allowed in the parade with special permission from Parade Management.
Of course! You don't need to be a member of a group to be in the Parade. Just register yourself in the appropriate category.