I have to admit that I have had a love affair with Coney Island since my first trip there at four years old. My parents took us there with our cousins in 1974 and I still remember my first Nathan’s hot dog and crinkle cut fries (which still taste the same fifty years later). I still remember riding Deno’s Haunted Mansion ride (I rode it three years ago and it was still the same cheesy ride) and I always remember all the times I have dipped my feet into that polluted beach (I have only swum on it once).
I even wrote my senior paper in both high school and Grad School at NYU on Luna Park with a group of apathetic classmates, some of whom made me do all the work. Yet I still come back for more. I don’t know why I love Coney Island so much.
My graduate paper on Luna Park while at NYU:
I had not attended the Mermaid Parade since the late 1990’s and had wanted to come back but it was one thing after another just to get down here that weekend. I had to plan it like D-Day almost two months in advance. I started my day early I was finishing my walk of the Avenues of lower Chelsea (this is on a separate blog) and all my classwork, housework and bills were already finished, so my day was open.
The poster for the Mermaid Parade this year
The Mermaid Parade in 2025:
I left early for the City and started my day with breakfast at 9th Avenue Deli at 769 Ninth Avenue, one of my favorite late-night places that also makes a wonderful breakfast. It’s been all about the pictures recently when dining out, so I needed a picture of their special French Toast platter. They make it so good.
9th Avenue Gourmet Deli at 769 Ninth Avenue #1
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:
The French Toast Platter at 9th Avenue Gourmet Deli is the best
Everything I have ever ordered here has been terrific and the prices are so fair. The platters can feed two people easily and their cooks do such a good job especially at breakfast.
They make enough food for two people to share
I figured a large breakfast would keep me going for the rest of the day. They give you four large slices of French Toast, two Scrambled eggs and four pieces of bacon. It was a great breakfast and enjoyed the meal. I was fine through dinner.
I took the Q express outside of Macy’s Herald Square and got down to Coney Island by noon. I had already checked out the parade route and settled by the Cyclone Roller Coaster and the entrance of Luna Park, far away from the subway entrance. The best part of being by Luna Park you got to see the parade as it turned to the Boardwalk. Plus, I wanted to visit the Aquarium later that afternoon.
Looking down Surf Avenue before the parade
Surf Avenue by the Coney Island Museum and other amusements
The entrance of Luna Park on Surf Avenue before
In some ways, the parade reminded me of the Halloween Parade with all its craziness. The energy level and the excitement just build as the parade starts. The initial part of the parade was the police and the fire departments making a big entrance with all the bells and whistles. They brought a lot of excitement to the start of the parade.
The video of the beginning of the parade with the NYPD and the FDNY opening the parade.
Then a group of skaters followed them and got the crowd all excited as they skated past us. The kids were going nuts over this.
The video of everyone was cheering the skaters when they performed down the street.
About twenty minutes later, the opening of the parade started with music, cheers and well wishes. Stupid me had the perfect view and I didn’t turn my camera on while I was filming the beginning of the parade. This video captures the excitement of the parade as it started.
The video of the start of the parade
I was able to catch my mistake and film the rest. Still the excitement built and it was a grand opening of the parade. The performers and drag queens brought so much creativity and excitement to the beginning of the parade.
The video of the opening of the parade
The costumes and make up were amazing.
The parade turning on Tenth Street right by the Cyclone, which was running every ten minutes with people screaming all the time.
The costumes and floats gave the parade a Carnival atmosphere.
The costumes were fantastic
Everyone really got into it.
Some revelers got really creative
All the floats were so full of energy and the music was great!
Revelers dancing on the floats
The parade goers dancing by the floats were having such a good time on this beautiful day
Mermaids dancing down Surf Avenue
The Jellyfish on display
The Jellyfish dance on Surf Avenue was so much fun.
All I could think about was Shirley Temple singing the “Codfish Ball” when she was a toddler. Funny enough, I think Shirley Temple would have loved this parade.
“At the Cod Fish Ball” with Shirley Temple
The parade continued on with all sorts of dance teams, drum bands and costumed people walking down Surf Avenue. The crowds really swelled as the parade went on and it was tough to maneuver for elbow room.
By the middle of the parade, the crowds kept growing.
The costumes got more and more elaborate. I did not remember the parade like this but then a lot has changed in thirty years. You could tell that people put a lot of thought into their outfits.
A purple octopus leading assorted sea creatures down Surf Avenue
A sea of mermaids
The NY Aquarium had an interesting float
Followed by an assortment of fish
The video of one of the drum lines. It looked like they were having so much fun.
More mermaids walking down the street
Greeting the parade goers
Performances with the Hula Hoop
Jugglers
More mermaids walking down the street
The mermaids greeting parade goers
More bands and costumes
The floats got very elaborate
A video of the puppets joining the parade and led by the L Train band. This reminded me so much of the Halloween Parade in the Village on Halloween Night. It was our version of Mardi Gras!
Some of the Mermaid costumes were so creative
Whole families really dressed up for this
Towards the end of the parade, the energy just got bigger as the party continued to the Boardwalk.
The last of the floats coming down Surf Avenue
This video of the drum line led us down the Surf Avenue and up to the Boardwalk for the ‘Unlocking of the Sea’ ceremony.
The floats had to turn off on Surf Avenue and 12th Street, but the marchers made their way to the Boardwalk and the partying and music continued to make its way down to the Parachute Drop where the ‘Unlocking of the Sea’ would take place. This would open the beaches for the Summer Season (the Summer Equinox was the day before)
I had enough time to grab a Pineapple-Lime ice, and it was the best $5.00 I spent my money on. It cooled me inside and out. These ices vendors have the best desserts!
The parade continued down the Boardwalk to the beach
A video of these festive Mermaids, ‘The Tail Shakers’, who led the way down the Boardwalk who energized the crowds. This is when you have to stop letting the ills of the world get you down and just have fun! With all the craziness going on in the world this was such a fun distraction. Our part of the world was having so much fun. ‘1999’ was such an ironic song for this moment!
The parade led to the Parachute Drop and the Steeplechase Pier where the rest of the service took place at 4:00pm. The ‘Unlocking of the Sea’ was an old tradition on Coney Island. It was to open the beaches at the beginning of the Summer and since the Solstice was the night before this was the first full day of summer. There are old pictures had King Neptune and Miss Coney Island opening the beaches in Coney Island’s past. All I know is that the lifeguard had to keep shooing the crowds away as the excitement built at the cermony.
The key to ‘Unlock the Beaches’
The key and the bands approaching the sea
The Key Ceremony led by the bands
The ‘Sea Unlocking’ at the beach with the beach bathing beauties.
The ceremony was a mob scene and as soon as the ‘unlocking’ was over the crowds started to disperse. This was much to the relief of the poor lifeguard, who must have been glad we were gone.
After the ceremony was over, I walked around Coney Island to get something to eat. Talk about crowded! There were lines everywhere and forget about Nathan’s. The lines were still thirty deep in every direction. Even the little pizzeria by the subway jacked all their prices up and a pizzeria on Neptune Avenue would not let you eat inside. I did not want to be ripped off that afternoon for a meal. I was going to stop in Chinatown on the way back into Manhattan, but I wanted to stay in Coney Island longer, so I explored beyond the area off the Boardwalk.
I finally found a new Chinese restaurant that opened a block from the beach on the Coney Island shopping strip on Neptune Avenue called Famous Rotisserie & Grill at 1525 Mermaid Avenue.
Walking around the Midway trying to find something to eat but every place was packed with people or the prices had been inflated.
Famous Rotisserie & Grill at 1525 Mermaid Avenue was once a Spanish Chicken restaurant
https://www.famousrotisseriebrooklyn.com/
My review on TripAdvisor:
I had a combination platter of their version of Lemon Chicken and Pork Fried rice. The food was good, and the portion size was large. It fit what I was looking for that afternoon (after I had finished, I wished I had gone to Chinatown).
The Lemon Chicken and Pork Fried Rice combination platter
The food was good and they give you a nice portion size for $10.00.
The inside of the restaurant
Their current menu and prices
The one thing that stood out about this late lunch/early dinner was the service. The woman who ran this restaurant was so friendly and accommodating to her customers I was really amazed by it. She catered more to the local resident than to tourist trade.
After lunch was over, I took one more walk around the amusement area before I left for the day. The crowds were still all over the place from the restaurants to the boardwalk. Between the parade, the beach and the weather, it was wall to wall people everywhere. By this point the Aquarium had closed.
While walking through Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, I came across the small museum, the Coney Island History Project at 3059 West 12th Street, which is inside the park. This small gallery tells the history of the development of Coney Island as an amusement area. From its development to its decline to its current rebirth, the area has had so many ups and downs.
The Coney Island Project at 3059 West 12th Street
https://www.coneyislandhistory.org/
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review in VisitingaMuseum.com:
This interesting little gallery/museum tells the stories of various times of Coney Island’s history. The museum displays a variety of artifacts in different points of the island’s history (I have attached several videos that will best explain each section of the museum and of the island’s history).
The outside display of Coney Island in its heyday in the early 1940’s
The front gallery with amusement artifacts
These pieces of former rides show the creativity of Coney Island rides and attractions. This is the nostalgia that visitors remember.
The history of Steeplechase Park, the second major amusement park after Sea Lion Park
Steeplechase Park of the past, the Steeplechase ride for which the park was named after
The history of Steeplechase Park and Luna Park of the past
Coney Island of the 1970’s and decline of the island
This video from the 1970’s contains many of the artifacts that the museum now has on display
The video from the movie “The Warriors” which what many thought Coney Island had turned into in the 1970’s.
Many thought the island of the movie ‘The Warriors’ in the 1970’s and that was not far off but like the rest of New York City, it keeps morphing and changing. It keeps surprising you. Trust me, it is not a Disney theme park.
The history of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park
The Miss Coney Island robot that dances.
Outside of the museum, there were murals on the history of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park.
The history of the park
The map of the park
As I left the island around 6:30pm, it was time to go. The Freak Bar at Coney Island USA was in full force with revelers after the parade. It looked like everyone was having a good time.
The Coney Island USA Freak Bar sign
https://www.coneyisland.com/freakbar
https://www.facebook.com/freakbarconeyisland/
Review on TripAdvisor:
I thought this was clever
I took one last walk down the Boardwalk at twilight. Coney Island is a pretty amazing place. It still has complexities and wonders. It can be seen from many different aspects. I see the wonder that generations have seen here. Coney Island is not just a place, it’s an idea of the mid and an imagine. While it might never reach the heights it did before the Dreamland Fire of 1911, each generation has their Coney Island memories. I know I do.
Coney Island Boardwalk at the end of the day
CBS This Morning: ‘The People’s Playground’
The day was a lot of fun, and you have to experience Coney Island once in your life if you are from out of town.
The Mermaid Parade in 2026:
Arriving at Surf Avenue subway
I returned in 2026 for the parade again and what a spectacularly sunny and warm day for a parade. When I first got there, there was no one along Surf Avenue but within a half hour of the parade, the whole place was packed. I learned from the previous year, the best place to view the parade is right in front of the Cyclone by the entrance of Luna Park where the parade turns off. You get the best pictures from this location.
Arriving on Surf Avenue the morning of the Mermaid Parade
The start of the parade on Surf Avenue
The opening of the parade with a parade of antique cars and mermaids
A Model T Ford at the start of the parade
The opening of the parade is always exciting
A sea of mermaids walking down Surf Avenue
Mermaids taking over Surf Avenue
A pink mermaid showing off her stuff
Elvis Mermaid
Golden Mermaid
The creativity of the costumes is incredible
Summers and dancers
The guy from the Coney Island Freak Show
Coney Island Polar Bear Club
Mermaids wth little mermaid
Pink Mermaid and her court
Family of mermaids
Deep sea fishing in gold lame
Under water green mermaid
String Ray float
Toy soldier mermaid
The band plays on
The silver mermaid
A female sea monster
Playful crabs
Parade Day coming down Surf Avenue on a sunny afternoon
Aquaman
Sea monster balloon
Sea monster queen
The International High School float
Sea creature with the marching band
For lunch that afternoon, I had to get away from the crowds and Nathan’s both on the Boardwalk and on Surf Avenue were mobbed so I went to Pizza on the Run by the subway station which is a block away.
Pizza on the Run at 2914 Stillwell Avenue
https://places.singleplatform.com/on-the-run-pizza/menu
My review on TripAdvisor:
The pizza case at Pizza on the Run
My lunch, a Grandma Sicilian slice, Garlic Twist and a Pepsi
I have eaten at Pizza on the Run a few times when Nathan’s was packed from events and the food here is wonderful. There is no place to eat but you can take your food and enjoy it on the many of the Boardwalk seats.
The Grandma slice was delicious
The delicious Garlic Twists
After lunch, I went back to watching the remainder of the parade. The parade as it finished even more creative costumes were displayed and the floats were filled with vibrant music and independent bands. People really brough their creative to the parade and made it the special event it was that morning and afternoon. The party continued on the Boardwalk as the costumed characters were routed south down the Boardwalk.
Metro Card man
The Coney Island Bayou at the end of the parade
The Octopus float that ended the parade
After the parade on Surf Avenue was over, I took a long walk on the beach to cool my feet. While the water at Coney Island is sketchy, it felt wonderful as the small waves passed under my feet. The cool water felt wonderful after a long week of walking around the City.
After my late lunch, I worked it off with a long walk on the beach
In the background, I could hear the band from the parade playing on the beach for the ‘unlocking of the sea’ ceremony. By the time I got there, they were leaving the beach so I followed the crowds back to the Boardwalk. It was packed.
I also took a long walk on the Boardwalk, weaving through crowds of people who were enjoying their afternoon.
After the ceremonies and parade were all over, I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the Boardwalk and weaved through businesses. The lines never stopped, they never went down at Nathan’s the whole time I was there, all the restaurants on the Boardwalk were full of lines and even the bars were packed. It looked like no one wanted to go home.
At the end of the evening, I stopped in Chinatown for a quick snack. I stopped at Jin Wen Dumplings on Henry Street, who makes the best Pork and Chive Fried Dumplings. The best part was that the line was small.
Jin Wen Dumplings at 25B Henry Street
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:
The best Fried Dumplings
For $5.00, they give you more than ten dumplings that are perfectly cooked and with some soy sauce, make the best meal. They are delicious.
The Fried Pork and Chive Dumplings
I sat in the park around the corner from the restaurant, eating dinner, watching kids play basketball and ride their scooters around the park while the sun was going down. Talk about the perfect evening to conclude the perfect day.
Chinatown at twilight at the end of a wonderful day
