“I’m going to change the world, but today I’ll just be a mermaid.”
My book of images from 20 years of the Coney Island Mermaid Parade is now available for purchase!
mermaid parade 2018
“The mermaid is an archetypal image that represents a woman who is at ease in the great waters of life.”
past parades
Founded in 1983, the Mermaid Parade of Coney Island is the nation's largest art parade and one of New York City's greatest summer events. A celebration of ancient mythology and honky-tonk rituals of the seaside, the 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 Mermaid Parade highlights Coney Island Pageantry based on a century of many Coney Island parades. Unlike most parades, this one has no ethnic, religious, or commercial aims. It’s a major New York holiday invented by artists.
The parade is an American version of the summer-solstice celebration, and features participants dressed in hand-made costumes based on themes of the sea. This creates an artistic framework on frivolity, dedication, pride, and personal vision that has become how New York celebrates the arrival of summer.
© Terri Gold World Imagery
terrigoldworldimagery@gmail.com