Coney Island Mermaid Parade Will Go On One Way Or Another

BROOKLYN, NY — Dick Zigun may not have specifics of how or when the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade will take place, but he is sure of one thing. One way or another, the show will go on.

Zigun, one of the parade’s organizers and the founder of Coney Island USA, announced this week that the parade, which was originally slated for June 20, will not take place as scheduled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It joins a long list of summer events, such as the New York City Pride parade to be either cancelled or postponed.

In an email to Patch Tuesday, Zigun wrote that he is committed to rescheduling a live parade for August or sometime this fall. Before that happens, however, he said New York City must be safe and that the not-for-profit organization Zigun founded 40 years ago would adhere to guidelines set in place by city hall and the New York Police Department.

“We maintain a can-do attitude, but it’s up to the city,” Zigun wrote.

While Zigun would prefer an actual parade, he has considered the option of a “lesser, yet spirited” virtual parade that he said will include previously videotaped costumed participants, floats and perhaps even a live-streamed ceremony from a socially-distanced undisclosed section of the beach.

However, no decisions will take place until Coney Island USA receives guidance from the city as to when or if it is safe for events like the mermaid parade to take place. In the meantime, Zigun expects parade king and queen designates to be announced this weekend via coneyisland.com, where weekly updates and registration can also be found.