Coney Island’s boardwalk sparkled today as the Mermaid Parade drew 30,000. Over 1,000 sea creatures—mermaids, Neptunes—marched; a Brooklyn siren’s $1K crown won X’s 15,000 posts. Free beads—2,000 tossed; $7 hot dogs sold 1,500. Sun hit 88°F; waves crashed. NYC’s summer—Coney’s magic.
Organizer Lena Park, 41, led 50 floats—glitter everywhere. A Queens band’s calypso—200 danced on Surf Avenue; drums boomed. Pop-up face paints—300 kids shimmered; lines snaked. New water stations—eco-cups—kept cool. Boardwalk’s vibe—NYC’s aquatic heart.
It’s not perfect—crowds jammed; elbows bumped. Some floats stalled—heat slowed motors. Still, 1K costumes, 30K eyes—parade’s a hit. Post-march, Luna Park buzzed—mermaid talk flowed. Annual splash—NYC dives in.
Park’s 41—sea queen? Siren’s 27—crown star. Coney waved; NYC glowed. Mermaid Parade—swim on.