Hundreds braved Saturday morning’s sweltering warmth for the forty second annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade in Brooklyn.The neighborhood was awash in a sea of shade as crowds of paradegoers in sparkly, ocean-themed costumes packed Surf Avenue and bands performed.The parade’s honorary hosts – referred to as King Neptune and and Queen Mermaid – had been husband and spouse Joe Coleman and Whitney Ward, artists who’ve attended the parade for over 30 years. Organizers name the occasion, which started in 1983, a “distinctive, inventive celebration,” and it is thought-about to mark the beginning of Coney Island’s summer time season.”It is the official opening of summer time,” paradegoer Brian Dillon stated. “Yearly the season right here will get pushed earlier, prefer it was Memorial Day, now it is Easter. However that is like the actual kickoff for the summer time season.”The parade additionally evokes Coney Island’s previous Mardi Gras celebrations, which lasted from 1903 to 1954.Dillon stated the parade, which is understood for the imaginative marine costumes worn by contributors, is “at all times unpredictable, and persons are simply so inventive and so into it.”Jessica Dye was additionally among the many crowd on Saturday.”I simply wished to decorate up like a shrimp and be surrounded by my fellow crustaceans,” Dye stated.Dye estimates she’s attended the parade round three or 4 instances, however stated one factor particularly stunned her this 12 months.”How a lot physique paint persons are carrying, as a result of it’s like 90 levels,” Dye stated. “I’m impressed with the make-up and physique paint dedication.”