Photography: 43rd Annual Mermaid Parade, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NYC 6/21/25

Photography: 43rd Annual Mermaid Parade, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NYC 6/21/25

With the exception of the pandemic and last year’s Somewhere Festival (f.k.a. Elsewhere Festival), I’ve attended almost every Mermaid Parade since 2007. This year was the first with a press card, which made it an entirely different experience. But no matter what, the parade is one of the best, most fun celebrations of all things summer. And I’d argue that it’s the very best of us. The creativity! The smiling faces! The joy! The smell of hot dogs and fries! Also, holy shit, a fire breather!

Long live Coney Island! Long live its freaks and oddballs! Long live the mermaids!

Check out photos from last Saturday’s festivities below.