Day: June 17, 2025

The creatures of the Atlantic Ocean will shimmy up the beach and onto the boardwalk on June 21 as the 43rd annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade returns to mark the unofficial start of summer in Brooklyn.

Around 5,000 participants are hard at work sewing together their homemade costumes and finishing up their lavishly-decorated floats, according to Coney Island USA, which hosts the event each year. They’ll be accompanied by marching bands, drill teams, and antique cars — plus thousands of spectators. 

Billed as the largest art parade in the country, the Mermaid Parade is a celebration of “ancient mythology and seaside ritual,” according to Coney Island USA, and is one of the borough’s most beloved traditions. 

Every year, participants build and rebuild their glittering floats and costumes to fit new themes and stories. At the end of the route, they show off for the judges — who confer and award prizes for the best floats, costumes, and musical groups. 

For some, taking part is pure fun. Longtime participant Ricco Rodriguez, for example, builds the Tractor Pirates float almost singlehandedly every year before his friends and family gather to finish up the fine details hours before the parade. 

Others are using the glittering procession to convey a more serious message about protecting Coney Island, the beach, and all its inhabitants from pollution and climate change. But no matter what, marchers say the Mermaid Parade is a symbol of real New York tradition and joy. 

Last year, Jan Aiello — who marched the route with her husband and son and their two puppets, both meant to warn about environmental destruction — told Brooklyn Paper the parade was “the antidote to that 21st century despair.”

At the head of the procession, rolling through the route in an antique wicker chair, will be this year’s Neptune King and Mermaid Queen, Eugene Hütz and Queenie Sateen. 

“Our King and Queen this year are two amazingly talented and artistic New Yorkers,” said Coney Island USA artistic director Adan Rinn, in a statement. 

Hütz is a singer from the band Gogol Bordello, which “basically created Gypsy punk,” Rinn said, while Sateen is a longtime fixture of the local club scene with a new solo single to be released just after the parade. 

“We’re so excited to welcome these two boundary-pushing artists as our royalty,” Rinn said.

The 2025 Mermaid Parade will kick off on June 21 at 1 p.m. The route starts at the corner of West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, rolls down Surf Avenue to West 10th Street, then turns down to the Boardwalk where it ends below the Parachute Jump. 

Tens of thousands of spectators attend each year, and all New Yorkers are invited to dress up and take part in the parade. Advanced registration closes on Tuesday, June 17, but latecomers can register in-person on the morning of the parade starting at 10 a.m. 

And all participants can take part in judging and try to win one of a series of awards for best costumes, best floats, and more. Bribery is not just allowed, but encouraged, per the Coney Island USA website, as a chance for “a little extra creativity.”

After the parade, participants and spectators alike can follow Rinn, the Mermaid Queen and the Neptune King down to the beach for an annual ceremony where they toss fruit into the ocean as an offering and mark the officially-unofficial opening of the beach for the season. The celebration will continue through the night at the ticketed Mermaid Parade Ball at the Sandbar on Surf Avenue.

New Youth Basketball Training Facility Coming to Brooklyn this Fall

Young basketball enthusiasts have something new to look forward to this fall with the news that BSE Global, the parent company of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty, will open a multi-court youth basketball training facility opposite Barclays Center. Operated by BSE Global’s flagship youth basketball program, Brooklyn Basketball, the almost 19,000 sq. ft. Brooklyn Basketball Training Center will allow the program to better support young players and unlock their full potential on and off the court. The program ignites passion, builds skills, and empowers young athletes, making the game more accessible than ever.

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“We are excited to further enhance the area surrounding Barclays Center with our Brooklyn Basketball Training Center available to all, right in the heart of Brooklyn, as we continue to help grow the sport across the borough,” said Marissa Shorenstein, Chief External Affairs Officer, BSE Global. “This initiative is about more than just basketball—it’s about creating a safe, inclusive space where young people can learn, grow, and connect – and by continuing to invest in our community programming, we’re building a stronger foundation for the future of the game and the neighborhoods we call home.” 

Brooklyn Basketball has been working with the New York City Department of Education for the past several years to bring a first-of-its-kind program offering free in-school basketball clinics for elementary and middle school students in Brooklyn. Reaching over 200 schools annually, children are given the opportunity to grow athletic and leadership skills while acquiring a love for the sport. In addition, Brooklyn Basketball provides community clinics across the borough in conjunction with partner community organizations, affecting approximately 40,000 kids each year.

Expanding on Existing Programs Enhances the Experience for Kids

The new facility goes well with Brooklyn Basketball’s existing community programming by offering after-school and weekend training, camps, daily clinics, advanced training, and all-girls programs, and other activities. The Training Center will also serve as a place to do homework and care for other needs before and after training. There will be a parents’ area as well. Kids will also take advantage of the two full courts, a “shooting lab” half court, auxiliary baskets, cutting-edge technology, and expert coaching to further enhance their skills. The center will also be home to Brooklyn Basketball’s newest after-school program that will launch for the upcoming school year, featuring age and skills programs for ages 6-14 on weekdays, with Wednesdays devoted to all-girls training.

“I have personally witnessed the way the game of basketball enriches the lives of young people all over the world, and the opportunity to open a state-of-the-art Brooklyn Basketball training center, right across the street from Barclays Center, is an exciting one for our community,” said Jordi Fernández, Head Coach of the Brooklyn Nets. 

The Brooklyn Basketball Training Center will be an asset to the area, encouraging the community’s youth to set their aim high and keep their eyes on the ball. 

“The Brooklyn Basketball Training Center is a game-changer, not just for basketball, but for the entire Brooklyn community,” said Sandy Brondello, Head Coach of the New York Liberty. “It’s about giving the next generation a space to learn the fundamentals, be inspired, and create a sense of community that basketball so brilliantly provides. We aim to build the future of the game and empower our community, especially young girls, to dream big. Who knows? Some of them might be playing across the street at Barclays Center for the New York Liberty one day.”

Registration for fall programming is open now at brooklyn-basketball.com.

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