Coney Island: The Mermaid Parade đ§ââď¸
Get ready to dive into one of the most whimsical, wild, and wonderful events of the summer! Bring your flippers, bring your finsâthis isnât a day for chills, just thrills!
Date: Saturday, June 21st
Weather Forecast: Sunny, blue skies, and temps in the 80s
Sights & Smells: Funnel cakes, crispy French fries, classic NYC/Brooklyn pizza, and of course, the iconic aroma of Nathanâs Original Hot Dogs. HOT DOG! đ
But letâs talk about the real star of the showâthe Mermaid Parade. Expect to see hundreds of mermaids from over 25 countries. Some will be dazzling in extravagant costumes, others boldly artistic with nothing but body paint (yes, itâs all in good fun and remains family-friendly).
And for the kidsâor the kid in youâConey Island offers an entire amusement park, arcades, bike rentals, face painting, and a beach so big, you might want to size up your swim trunks.
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đ Getting There from Hamilton Station, NJ:
Iâll be catching the train from Hamilton Station to Penn Station NYC, departing at either 8:24 AM or 9:08 AM. Travel time is about 1.5 hours. I will confirm which train I will be on 3 days prior to the event date. Please arrive to the station at least 15 minutes prior to departure.
⢠Parking at Hamilton Station: $8 per day (may be free on weekends)
⢠Round-trip train fare (Adult): $37
⢠NJ Transit Info: www.njtransit.com
Once in NYC:
- Take the A train from 34th StâPenn Station to W 4th StâWashington Square
- Transfer to the D train, heading to Coney IslandâStillwell Avenue
⢠Subway ride time: ~1 hour
⢠Subway fare: $2.90
Total travel time: ~2.5 hours
Parade starts at 1:00 PM, so plan accordingly!
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đŁď¸ Other Travel Options:
⢠Drive: Convenient but parking may be a challenge
⢠Uber/Lyft: ~$200+ each way
⢠Helicopter via Zip Aviation: ~$4,300 round trip (seats up to 6; around $2,100 per person with tip)
(Yes, that helicopter option is real. But letâs be honestâunless youâre Neptune himself, maybe stick with the train.)
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đ Carpool Anyone?
If youâre heading out from Philadelphia or the Northeast, feel free to coordinate in the comments. Carpooling is a great way to split costs and ride in style!
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đ Helpful Links:
⢠Mermaid Parade Highlights (Video) https://youtu.be/ZohtpM-FIFc
⢠Official Mermaid Parade Info
https://www.coneyisland.com/mermaidparade
⢠Parade Vibes â Another Fun Clip https://youtu.be/55Hpc2PNX4I
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Get your sea legs readyâitâs going to be a splash!
Ps: There isnât a limit on guests!
