City's 'First Children' Serve As King & Queen At Brooklyn's Mermaid Parade
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio, his wife and two children took part in Coney Island's Mermaid Parade Saturday.
Thousands of spectators gathered for the 32nd annual event, CBS 2 reported.
Dante and Chiara De Blasio served as King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, but they were not alone. The mayor and the city's first lady were also in attendance.
City's 'First Children' Serve As King Neptune, Queen Mermaid At Mermaid Parade
Mayor de Blasio went all out for the event, dressed as a pirate with a fake sword and a white puffy shirt, WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported. De Blasio's wife was dressed as a mermaid, 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten reported.
The parade's honorees, Dante and Chiara, were painted blue as the crowd cheered them on.
"I thought his costumes were great. I liked them a lot. I was thinking of doing exactly that, painting myself blue and joining the parade. I think it's awesome," said one spectator.
The parade featured marching bands and participants in hand-made mermaid and sea creature costumes.
"This is wonderful, best parade in the city," Mike Fanelli told Baumgarten.
City's 'First Children' Serve As King Neptune, Queen Mermaid At Mermaid Parade
Many in the crowd were also dressed for the occasion.
"I am a dragon-elf-mermaid. I come from Neverland and I'm looking very sparkly and sea green today," Vitani told Smith.
Vitani and her friend Chakira were covered in paint. So just how long did it take them to get ready?
"About four hours, five hours," she said. "It's totally worth it. Every year it's worth it."
The Mermaid Parade is billed as the largest art parade in the nation.
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