{"id":166599,"date":"2026-03-17T20:45:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/166599\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T20:45:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:45:09","slug":"beloved-nyc-mermaid-parade-could-be-canceled-amid-financial-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/166599\/","title":{"rendered":"Beloved NYC Mermaid Parade could be canceled amid \u2018financial crisis\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

CONEY ISLAND, Brooklyn (PIX11) \u2014 New York City\u2019s beloved Mermaid Parade<\/a> is at risk as its organizers face a \u201cfinancial crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coney Island<\/a> USA, the nonprofit that\u2019s hosted the decades-old summer tradition, is struggling to afford the parade after a costly year, organizers said. They say they need over $6,000 to continue.<\/p>\n

Discover more local reporting on our homepage <\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cConey Island USA is facing a serious financial crisis after a harsh winter and an exhausting fight to protect the neighborhood from a proposed casino development,\u201d organizers said in a post to Instagram<\/a>. \u201cWithout urgent support, the 2026 Mermaid Parade may not happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each year, New Yorkers dress as sea creatures and march along Surf Avenue, brought to life by music, costumes, colorful floats, and a beach ceremony. The parade was created in 1983 to celebrate the creativity and artistry of Coney Island.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t just a parade. It\u2019s artists, families, performers, and a piece of New York culture that has made millions of people smile,\u201d organizers said.<\/p>\n

The tradition has faced funding challenges in the past<\/a>. Organizers raised funds to put on the parade in 2013 and again in 2017.<\/p>\n

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here <\/a>and follow her on Twitter here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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