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BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARTY MARKOWITZ PARTICIPATES IN THE 21ST ANNUAL MERMAID PARADE IN CONEY ISLAND

Photographed by Amelia D’Entrone

Borough President Markowitz poses with parade judges Carmen Mofongo (l) and Lynn Bodnar (r) at the Annual Mermaid Parade.

On Saturday, June 26th, Brooklyn Borough President joined thousands of Brooklynites as they celebrated the official start of summer in Brooklyn at the nation’s largest art parade- the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island.

The Mermaid Parade was founded in 1983 by Coney Island USA, a not-for-profit arts organization to pay homage to Coney Island’s Mardi Gras, which ran from 1903 to 1954. The parade celebrates the beach, the beginning of summer and Coney Island pride. Parade revelers dress in handmade costumes, as mermaids, neptunes and various sea creatures, and are led by a celebrity King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, who assist in the opening of the beach for the summer season.

This year’s King Neptune was renowned musician Moby and Queen Mermaid was Theo from the Lunachicks.