COVID has put this nautical celebration on hold for another year.
Coney Island USA has, for the second consecutive year, canceled its annual Mermaid Parade as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“It is with sadness that we announce the cancellation of the 2021 Mermaid Parade,” the not-for-profit organization behind the beloved yearly event announced Wednesday.
The group had already pushed the gathering’s usual June date to next month, in hopes the threat of COVID-19 would be lesser by then.
“When we set the September date, we hoped that the Parade, the largest art parade in the nation and a point of civic pride for Coney Island, would represent a return to normalcy. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is not finished with us quite yet,” stated a press release.
Crux among their concerns is the number of children who usually attend the family-friendly affair, which has been a Brooklyn tradition since 1983.
“The Parade draws hundreds of thousands to Coney Island every year, including large numbers of children, many crowding onto mass transit for the ride out to Stillwell Avenue,” the release continued.
While the organizers “are all disappointed and apologize to those of you who, like us, were looking forward to this annual celebration of life, creativity, and togetherness, post-2020,” they’ve determined that “the risks to our sponsors, patrons, community, and our wonderful staff — who have risen to every challenge — were too much to bear.”
In the meantime, Coney Island USA is still hosting a number of upcoming events, all listed on its online calendar, and assure fans that “the Mermaid Parade will return in 2022, better than ever!”
Those looking to support the organization in this time of crisis should consider becoming a member and “GETTING VACCINATED!!” the release concluded.
Last year, as an alternative to the parade, Coney Island USA held The Maskies, a competition calling for the most outrageous takes on the newest public health style.
Nathan’s annual Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, Coney Island’s other big event of the summer, went on with crowds this year after being held indoors and without an audience in 2020.