Coney Island Mermaid Parade celebrated in New York

2007-12-04 22:34:42 [ Big Normal Small ]    　Comment

Costumed participants march in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade in New York, June 23, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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    　NEW YORK, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Coney Island, Brooklyn on Saturday to observe the silver anniversary of the Mermaid Parade, one of the largest arts parade in the United States.

    Organizers say the Mermaid Parade celebrates "the sand, the sea, the salt air, and the beginning of summer."

    The always colorful event features scantily-clad mermaids with wigs and plastic fins, bare-breasted sea creatures, as well as a celebrity King and Queen. This year's King Neptune was Adam Savage of the Discovery Channel's "Mythbusters." Patti D'Arbanville of "Rescue Me" was the Queen Mermaid.

    The parade climaxed with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the shore, and a tossing of fruit into the Atlantic to appease the sea gods.

    The event is considered one of the largest arts parade in America. It is also Coney Island's biggest annual economic draw.

    Parade director Dick Zigun expected over half a million spectators to flock to the boardwalk on Saturday.

    "This is the event that started to turn around the image of Coney Island in the early 80s," Zigun said, who founded the event in 1983 as part of the non-profit organization Coney Island USA. "We created a holiday to give spirit back to Coney Island."

    Charles Denson, director of the Coney Island History Project, credited the parade with bringing Coney Island back to the public's attention.

    "It was like a formal resurrection, reminding people how important Coney Island is to New York," Denson said.

    On earlier rumors that the parade is closing, Zigun said: "That is complete nonsense, like the rumors that all of Coney Island is shutting down after this year."

    "Without question, the parade will be around for its fiftieth anniversary. And beyond," Zigun said.

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