This Saturday is the 25th annual Mermaid Parade at Coney Island, my all-time favorite New York event of the year. The Mermaid Parade is a celebration of all things bizarre, silly and fringey about New York, ostensibly to fete the opening of Coney Island for the summer season, but really just an excuse to dress up like a fish. A very naughty fish.
My lindy hopping friends Lilieblue and Miss Behave are again putting together a contingent of dancers in appropriate nautical wear, including yours truly. The crowds are always super enthusiastic about our dancing and we always place highly with the judges. The festivities begin at 2pm and go to all hours.
And given the eminent death of Astroland in Coney Island, this year’s parade has a note of sadness and finality about it. I know that there will likely be future parades, but there’s a real sense that an era is passing. Which is reason more to celebrate NOW.