New York Photography ~ Mermaid Parade at Coney Island

I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off summer than the Annual Mermaid Parade at Coney Island. I have wanted to go and photograph this, the country’s biggest art parade, for years. And finally my dreams came true this past weekend in NYC. I love the theme. I love the setting. But mostly I love that it’s a day for everyone to just throw their worries, prejudices and bras aside and celebrate all that is quirky and fun. It all started on the midtown N train as mermaids and mermans filed into the subway cars. The energy was palpable from the start. One such “Ariel” told me how she comes every year and talked about how she made her costume from shells she gathered over the years from her grandparents summer home in Truro on Cape Cod. And that small world exchange seemed fitting as we exited at Stillwater station and I entered into a world that was so strongly reminiscent of another favorite summer destination – Ptown. The colorful costumes and personalities made for such a fun and interesting day out despite the rain. Bucket list check.

“I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.” ~ Anaïs Nin

Aquatic Creature at Mermaid Parade Mermaid Parade at Coney Island Pink Flamingos at the Mermaid Parade Hula hoops at Mermaid parade Dancers at the Mermaid Parade Elaborate Costume at Mermaid Parade Pretty mermaid at Parade