Coney Island’s 36th Annual Mermaid Parade [PHOTOS]

CONEY ISLAND – On a hot, sunny Saturday, crowds gathered along Surf Avenue in Coney Island to check out the 36th Annual Mermaid Parade, a “celebration of ancient mythology and honky-tonk rituals of the seaside” performed each year.

Writer Neil Gaiman served as King Neptune with his wife, singer Amanda Palmer at his side as Queen Mermaid.

The party parade spilled down Surf Avenue in a whirl of glitter, mermaids and sea creatures, blowing bubbles, throwing beads to the crowd and blasting music. Check out photos from this year’s parade below!

All photos by Paul Stremple for BKLYNER.