34th Annual Mermaid Parade Steps Off In Coney Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A sea of glitter and mermaids is taking over Coney Island Saturday for the annual Mermaid Parade.
The 34th annual parade celebrating art and culture stepped off at 1 p.m. on Surf Avenue and more than 3,000 marchers and half a million spectators were expected to take part.
EXTRA: Mermaid Parade Guide
The parade features marching bands and participants in hand-made mermaid and sea creature costumes.
"I've always heard of it and I've always wanted to come," one parade goer named Kelly told 1010 WINS' Roger Stern.
It is also the largest art parade in the nation. Founder Dick Zigun said he started the parade 33 years ago for a number of reasons.
"To teach mythology to kids in the neighborhood where streets are literally named Mermaid Avenue, Neptune Avenue," he said.
A celebrity King Neptune and Queen Mermaid will also be crowed.
This year's King Neptune is Carlo A. Scissura, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
Supermodel Hailey Clauson, who was featured on the cover of this year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, is the Queen Mermaid.
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