Mermaid Parade Marching Information

Coney Island USA Presents: The 42nd Annual Mermaid Parade
Saturday, June 22nd, 2024

Click
here to register to participate!

Registration Rates & Information

  • 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.

  • Day of rates are Cash Only.

    $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.
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.

 

Parade Route

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 5pm, there’s a procession led from the Judge’s stands at 19th Street and Surf Avenue, 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 and W 19th Street 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.

  • According to many-time Queen Mermaid Kate Dale, dimensions for floats should follow these rules of thumb:

    Width - The narrower of the ramps is 8' wide to the inside of the rail, but no more than 6' of width is recommended and 5'6" would be preferable.

    Height - The hard cut off is approx 9'6" or so. A wire across 10th Street Ramp is 10' off ground, but with slope, clearance is less than that.

    Slope - The steeper of the ramps is approximately 5" to 1' incline, so people should prepare for that in terms of weight and tippage.

    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.

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