Fireworks And Mermaids Set Stage For Big Coney Island Weekend

Explosions in the sky, blinding LED lights, girls strutting around in skimpy outfits… ‘merica.

These wonderful things are all to be expected this weekend on Coney Island.

On Friday, you can see the first Friday fireworks of 2013. If you are especially afraid of the dark, you will also be able to see Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz throw the switch on the 8,000 dazzling new lights attached to the parachute jump. The lights are so bright that they will actually be able to be seen from space.

On Saturday, make sure to grab your mermaid outfit and head out a bit earlier for the recently saved Mermaid Parade. This year, the parade is kicking off at 1 p.m. and I hope to see you and all the other aquatic revelers there strutting your stuff.

For more information on the parade, click here.

Added (6/24 @ 2:43 p.m.): Our sincere apologies to Allan Shweky, who took the above photo, and who we forgot to credit.