Welcome summer with the return of the Mermaid Parade, an eclectic (and historically jam-packed) celebration, featuring revelers decked out in their most outrageous sea-themed costumes. 

Stunning vintage cars roll down the street alongside marching bands, gleefully glamorous floats, and all the wild and wacky mermaids, pirates, Neptunes, and other creatures.  There is some mild nudity, mostly topless ladies with pasties, but it's not much more than you'd see on the beach, and kids adore (and even march in) this fest.

The Parade starts at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, and rolls east to West 10th Street. At West 10th Street, the Parade turns south towards the boardwalk while cars and motorized floats continue down Surf Ave.

Immediately after the parade, at approximately 4pm, this year's King Neptune and Queen Mermaid (painter Joe Coleman and photographer Whitney Ward) lead a procession to the beach at 19th Street and the boardwalk for a ceremony to formally open the ocean for the summer swimming season.