34th Annual Mermaid Parade at Coney Island to be Held in June; Queen Mermaid, King Neptune Announced

Coney Island USA's 34th Annual Mermaid Parade will begin at 1pm on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The parade starts at the corner of West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, and proceeds east on Surf Avenue to West 10th Street, where it turns south to the Boardwalk, and then north back to Steeplechase Plaza, where it concludes.

The Mermaid Parade is a unique and artistic celebration of ancient mythology and the honky-tonk seaside ritual that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the amusement district. The parade features marching bands, drill teams, floats, antique cars and some 1,500 participants dressed in hand-made costume of mermaids, sea creatures, amusement rides and neptunes. It is the largest art parade in the nation and the largest event of the year in Coney Island.

Queen Mermaid, Hailey Clauson, is an American Supermodel born and raised in California. She is the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model for 2016 and has appeared on numerous global magazine covers and advertising campaigns.

King Neptune, Carlo A. Scissura, is the President and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, a position he has held since September 2012. The Brooklyn Chamber is one of New York's largest business advocacy and economic development organizations, with over 2,100 members, and under Carlo's leadership, its membership has grown by more than 200 percent. ?Born and raised in Bensonhurst, Carlo is a lifelong Brooklyn resident and he has been an advocate for the borough his entire career. ?He currently lives in Dyker Heights with his daughter Teresa Rose.

According to tradition, Queen Mermaid and King Neptune will be wheeled through the parade in an antique wicker Boardwalk Rolling Chair, that dates back to 1923.

"The Mermaid Parade has always been first to welcome new partners to a diverse Coney Island Community, be it the avant garde, celebrities or a new mayoral family... In 2016 the Mermaid Parade is working with Live Nation, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce & Sports Illustrated to bring national acts and even greater media attention to Coney Island. We are thrilled to have Hailey as Queen Mermaid and Carlo as King Neptune!", said Coney Island USA and Parade founder Dick Zigun, who is known as the Mayor of Coney Island.

Immediately after the parade, at approximately 4 pm, Dick Zigun leads the King and Queen procession from the reviewing stand on West 20th Street through the MCU Park Parking Lot, to the beach for the opening of the Ocean, for the summer swimming season.

Parade Registration and additional information are available at: www.coneyisland.com.

High Res Press Images are available here.
Photo Credits: Parade - Norman Blake, Hailey Clauson - James Macari/Sports Illustrated, Carlo A. Scissura - Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

The assembly sites and route are as follows: PEOPLE AND PUSH/PULL FLOATS, ANTIQUE AUTOS and MOTORIZED FLOATS assemble at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue.

* The Parade will start at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue

* The Parade will roll east to West 10th Street

* At West 10th Street the Parade will turn south towards the boardwalk

* Cars and Motorized Floats continue down Surf Ave. passing W. 10th Street and exit the parade.

* At the Boardwalk, the marchers and push-pull floats will turn west and head towards West 17th St.

* At Steeplechase Plaza, the Parade will disband.

The Mermaid Parade was founded in 1983 by Coney Island USA, the not-for-profit arts organization that also produces the Coney Island Circus Sideshow.

The parade was founded to achieve three goals: bring mythology to life for local residents who live on streets named Mermaid and Neptune; create self-esteem in a district that is often disregarded; and let artistic New Yorkers find self-expression in public. Previous King Neptunes and Queen Mermaids have included Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Queen Latifah, Moby, Annabella Sciorra, Judah Friedlander, Carole Radziwill, Harvey Keitel and Daphne Keitel.

ABOUT: Coney Island USA is a 501 ©3 not-for-profit arts organization located in Coney Island's historic amusement park. In existence since 1980, Coney Island USA has developed and produces New York City's best-loved summer programming including the Mermaid Parade, and Coney Island Circus Sideshow. Coney Island USA also operates the Coney Island Museum, and produces Ask the Experts, Burlesque at the Beach, Congress of Curious People, Coney Island Film Society, Coney Island Film Festival, Coney Island Tattoo and Hot Rod Festival, Funhouse Philosophers, Creepshow at the Freakshow, Magic at Coney!!! and the Coney Island Sideshow School.