Yesterday afternoon, every artist and freak in all five boroughs descended on Coney Island for the annual Mermaid Parade. The world’s largest art parade, now in its 27th year, was blessed with gorgeous, sunny weather and led by perhaps the most legendary couple in its history: King Neptune Lou Reed and Queen Mermaid Laurie Anderson. Participants have always tailored their costumes to fit current events, and this year we saw many oil-soaked mermaids and signs denouncing BP. Our gallery of Mermaid Parade images is after the jump.
Queen Mermaid Laurie Anderson and King Neptune Lou Reed. Notice that Anderson is grinning but Reed, though he tips his hat to the crowd, won’t betray his curmudgeonly cool by smiling. As it should be.
Flavorpill’s own New York Managing Editor Leah Taylor (far left, in the pirate costume) proudly carries the banner for Lou Reed.
The Mermaid Parade begins with an endless stream of antique cars. This is the only one that caught our eye.
The Gypsy Mermaid truck.
What do you get when you cross a peacock with a mermaid?
The parade’s most elegant guy-in-dress/pooch-on-stroller combo.
Our favorite pair of stilt walkers.
Worlds collide.
A big, green hippie bus celebrates “The Dawn of a New Era.”
How’s this for Father’s Day? The son of a Coney Island legend pays tribute to his dad, ’50s fixture Freddie the Tramp.
Another one to warm your heart on Father’s Day: A little mermaid and her sailor pop.
Amid the smiling, brightly colored marchers, a dead-serious protestor reminds us of BP’s oil spill disaster.
A deep sea-diving superhero cleans up the BP spill with broom and dust pan.
Carmen Miranda meets Avatar, with a whole lotta attitude.
Catching the big fish.
Catching a smaller, sexier fish…
Colorful, in more ways than one.
Nice paint job!
Another proud peacock.
The Day of the Dead has never looked so alive.