NEWSLETTER
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 1 p.m.
Coney Island, N.Y. (June 12, 2025) — Coney Island USA, the non-profit multi-arts organization headquartered in the heart of Coney Island’s famed amusement district, will hold its 43rd Annual Mermaid Parade on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Singer for Gypsy Punk band Gogol Bordello, Eugene Hütz and New York based singer, songwriter and performance artist, Queenie Sateen will serve as King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, respectively, the organization announced.
The Mermaid Parade, long the unofficial kick-off to summer in New York City, is the nation’s largest art parade. It celebrates ancient mythology and seaside ritual, drawing roughly 5,000 participants who proudly display handcrafted sea-themed costumes and elaborate floats alongside marching bands, drill teams, antique cars, and hundreds of thousands of spectators who come to watch the spirited spectacle.
“Our King and Queen this year are two amazingly talented and artistic New Yorkers,” Coney Island USA’s Artistic Director Rinn states. “I’ve been a fan of Gogol Bordello since their first album came out. Eugene basically created Gypsy Punk!” Rinn emphatically continues, “Queenie has been a fixture on the club scene for some time. She was one half of the duo Sateen and her first solo single ‘Downfalling’ comes out just a week after the Mermaid Parade! We’re so excited to welcome these two boundary pushing artists as our royalty.”
In keeping with tradition, the King and Queen will be wheeled through the parade in an antique wicker boardwalk rolling chair dating back to 1923.
Immediately after the parade, at approximately 4 p.m., Mr. Rinn will lead the King and Queen in a procession to the beach at 19th Street and the boardwalk for the ceremony to formally open the ocean for the summer swimming season.
The Mermaid Parade Ball, presented by Coney Island USA kicks off at 5 p.m. at the Sandbar, 1904 Surf Ave. Tickets and further information are available at https://www.coneyisland.com/
Parade registration and details can be found at: https://www.coneyisland.com/
High-resolution press images of the parade are available here. Please credit Eliza Rinn.
High-resolution press images of the art and royalty are available here.
Registration & Route
· Parade registration is from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the parking lot between 21st and 22nd Street and Surf Avenue.
· The Parade will start at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue at 1 p.m.
· The Parade will roll east to West 10th Street.
· At West 10th Street, the Parade will turn south towards the boardwalk.
· Cars and motorized floats continue down Surf Avenue, passing West 10th Street and exiting the parade.
· At the boardwalk, the marchers and push-pull floats head west towards Steeplechase Plaza where the parade ends.
About the Parade
The Mermaid Parade was founded in 1983 by Coney Island USA, the not-for-profit arts organization that also produces the Coney Island Circus Sideshow and houses The Coney Island Museum. The Mermaid Parade pays homage to Coney Island's forgotten Mardi Gras, which ran from 1903 to 1954, and draws from a host of inspirations, resulting in a wonderful and wacky event exclusive to Coney Island.
The parade was founded to achieve three goals: bring mythology to life for local residents who live on streets named Mermaid and Neptune; create self-esteem in a district that is often disregarded; and let artistic New Yorkers find self-expression in public.
Previous King Neptunes and Queen Mermaids have included Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Queen Latifah, Moby, Annabella Sciorra, Judah Friedlander, Deborah Harry, Chris Stein, David Johansen, Karen Duffy, Carole Radziwill, Harvey and Daphne Keitel, Joe Coleman and Whitney Ward.
About King Neptune EUGENE HÜTZ
Eugene Hütz is a Ukrainian-born artist, songwriter, and frontman of international punk band Gogol Bordello. A lifelong lover of the punk scene when growing up in Ukraine, Hütz found himself where he felt he belonged, in New York’s Lower East Side in the late 90s, where he went to shows and later performed at the legendary CBGBs. Crashing at friends’ apartments and playing acoustic sets in NYC Ukrainian bars, his group steadily grew to an 8-piece multicultural band, combining Eastern, Western, and Latin traditions. Hütz is a tireless advocate for Ukrainian solidarity. His band, Gogol Bordello, recently released a 15-Year Anniversary Edition of their album Super Taranta! along with their new album Solidaritine, where they return to their hardcore roots with renewed urgency.
About Queen Mermaid QUEENIE SATEEN
Queenie Sateen is a New York-based singer, songwriter, and performer whose work blends sleek pop, experimental sounds, and underground club influences. Queenie brings a multidisciplinary background to her music formed by her roots in New York's queer nightlife and performance scenes. The city's club kid culture heavily informed her visual and musical identity. Queenie's first solo single, "Downfalling," drops on June 27. The track marks the beginning of a body of work that blends emotional depth with pop sensibilities.
About Coney Island USA
Founded in 1980, Coney Island USA is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit multi-arts center dedicated to Coney Island's economic and cultural revitalization. Its mission is to “defend the honor of American popular culture through innovative exhibits and performances,” with signature programming including the Mermaid Parade, the world-famous Circus Sideshow, the Coney Island Film Festival, and Burlesque at the Beach. Coney Island USA also operates the Coney Island Museum, the only accredited institution uniquely dedicated to preserving and promoting Coney Island’s history.
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Contact:
Adam Rinn - Artistic Director