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The Mermaid Parade at Coney Island! - Photo Collection

posted Sunday, 22 June 2008

Greetings from the LeMay's correspondent-to-the-south! (At least to the south of Vermont in New York City.  Remember that Lucy Belle is the LeMay's correspondent FROM the South!)    

Lock up your kiddies and read on because Saturday was the annual Mermaid Parade at Coney Island.  This home-grown, wild and decadent event occurs every year at this time (although there is some worry about what will happen to the parade when the new upscale development of Coney Island begins this year.)  And while this parade is in New York City, it has such a LeMay quality to it (costumes and nudity), that it seemed like it needed to be covered on the LeMay's website.  

The parade kicked off at two o'clock, but by then most of the crowd had eaten several Nathan's hotdogs and were also on their second or third 42oz tub of beer from Nathan's.  Drinking on the streets is the rule of the day!

 

Almost anything goes, as long as some attempt to follow the theme happens.  The parade is full of scantily clad mermaids, mermen, and lots and lots of other sea creatures. And while this guy seems to have forgotten his bottom...

 

... we all know that no self respecting mer-person would be caught wearing a top! 

 

 

 

Who knows what this couple was thinking, but a good public spanking seemed to fit right in anyway! 

 

The scent of sex in the air got to be to much and even the dogs got into the act.  Of course the crowd just cheered them on and drank more beer. 

 

  

While most people put some effort into their costumes... 

 

...this "gentleman" just threw on a diaper and walked the parade.  Not surprisingly, no one else in the parade walked too close to him. 

We all had heard of fish heads, but this float took things to a whole new level.

 

And this guy appears in almost every NYC parade in the same outfit, with the same dog and parrot, and with his beard died some crazy color.  Whatever floats your boat.  It's all good.

 

I guess the question here is "Why bother?" 

 

 

 

Who knew there was an S&M community amongst the mer-people! 

 

In the sun, a squirt from a seahorse was a much welcome treat! 

 

 

The Grand Marshall of the parade was Reverend Billy from the Church of Stop Shopping.  He was in the parade with his followers to protest the coming development of Coney Island into expensive condos and shops.

 

The developer following Rev. Billy was booed by the crowd. 

I don't know if size matters with a banana, but this guy sure thought it did. 

 

 

Jellyfish and even a a sea turtle hit the streets to celebrate the day! 

 

Even a sea urchin or two joined in on the fun. 

   

 

The Marine Antoinettes all showed up in full costume and put on quite a show as they marched. 

 

When the parade ended, everyone hit the beach.  It was wall to wall people in every direction as far as the eye could see.  Just like one of those old photos you see of a beach covered in people. 

 

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1. Amber LeMay left...
Sunday, 22 June 2008 9:54 pm

It looks like a cross between Burlington's Mardi Gras and Gay Pride Parade and World Naked Bike Ride. Maybe we could do a similar thing in Beaver Pond... Brattleboro has the Strolling of the Heiffers... maybe we could have the Trolling of the Beavers...

Thanks, Russell!!