Following Funding Gap, Supporters Show Up for the Mermaid Parade

by Olivia Seaman, Brooklyn Paper

Just weeks after sounding the alarm over its uncertain future, the Coney Island Mermaid Parade is seeing a surge of community support and a renewed sense of cautious optimism.

Organizers at Coney Island USA say their emergency GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $40,000, more than doubling its initial total and signaling just how deeply the decades-old tradition resonates with New Yorkers and fans around the world.

“It is very heartwarming,” artistic director Adam Rinn told Brooklyn Paper in a follow-up interview. “The event has greatly impacted and touched so many people. Donations are coming in all different amounts — dollars to thousands of dollars.”

But even with that momentum, the parade is not yet secure.

Rinn said the current total represents roughly one-third of the funds needed to stage the free, large-scale event, which draws hundreds of spectators to Surf Avenue each June. While organizers are continuing preparations behind the scenes, the final green light depends on closing the remaining financial gap.

“We’re not out of the woods just yet,” he said. “We’re doing everything behind the scenes so that when it comes time to write the first check, we have the money in place.”

Since the initial fundraising push, support has extended beyond individual donations. Businesses and community partners have begun stepping in, offering to host independent fundraising events to benefit the parade — a development Rinn says is just as valuable as direct contributions.

“Every penny helps,” he said. “If someone does an event and it generates a few hundred or a few thousand dollars, that’s all useful. It’s all appreciated.”

Those grassroots efforts are also helping raise awareness about the organization behind the spectacle, something Rinn noted has historically been overlooked.

“For years, people didn’t really know who produced the parade,” he said. “It just seemed like, ‘the parade happens.’ But there’s an organization behind it.”

While crowdfunding had provided a critical boost, Rinn said corporate sponsorships will ultimately determine whether the 2026 parade moves forward at full scale.

Coney Island USA is actively seeking brands and businesses interested in reaching the parade’s massive audience — both in-person and across social media — as the summer season approaches.

“We are inching closer with some sponsors, and that’s going to make a very big impact,” Rinn said.

Registration for Mermaid Parade participants has not yet opened, but organizers expect to launch it soon — another key revenue stream that will help solidify plans

Despite the uncertainty, Rinn struck a more hopeful tone than in previous weeks. Organizers are continuing logistical planning as if the parade will proceed, ready to move quickly once funding is secured.

“At this point, we are expecting the Mermaid Parade to happen,” he said.

Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.

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