Mermaid Parade is saved! $100G Kickstarter campaign meets goals
On June 3 at midnight, the 27-day $100,000 Kickstarter campaign to save Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade will come to a close. On the morning of May 30, the initial goal was met through small contributions from people around the world. Widespread attention from media and celebrities (Alec Baldwin, Darren Aronofsky, etc.), created a veritable flash flood of support for the 30-year-old event.
“It doesn’t surprise me. The folks that participate love it and the observers love it. I am thrilled that folks have responded so beautifully,” the Daily News quoted Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz as saying. “The Mermaid Parade is America’s most underdressed parade and it is a major tourist attraction not only in Brooklyn, but the entire city of New York.”
The Mermaid Parade, conceived and managed by the not-for-profit arts organization Coney Island USA, was in jeopardy due to extensive Hurricane Sandy storm damage to its landmarked arts center at 1208 Surf Avenue and rising production costs. Funding the recovery and the Mermaid Parade proved to be extremely challenging for the small organization.