And you thought mermaids needed water to get around. This Saturday, thousands of mer-people, antique cards, Neptunes and New Yorkers masquerading as creatures from the deep will descend upon Coney Island for the 26th annual Mermaid Parade, a free outdoor event with a penchant for body paint and Mardi Gras-inspired revelry that attracts the masses to the boardwalk and welcomes the summer beach season in with a bang (and quite a few costumes involving pasties). This year, The Church of Stop Shopping’s Reverend Billy and Savitra D. will rule over the mermaid-a-ratti as King Neptune and Queen Mermaid. After the parade floats wind their way to the sand, participants and spectators alike head to the post-parade Mermaid Parade Ball (tickets $15 at the door, $10 in advance) for live music, burlesque performances and classic Coney Island sideshow acts.

If you’re heading in from the city, the best way to get there is via public transportation. From midtown Manhattan, take the D, Q, N or F train to Stillwell Avenue (it’s the last stop).

Photo Credit: Alexandra Moss

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