Getting their sea legs: Coney Island Mermaid Parade seeks funding to stay afloat * Brooklyn Paper

"It's been a struggle since the pandemic. We as an organization never fully bounced back from it. What's happening now is that last season was not as lucrative. There are upfront costs that are involved in staging what is, in essence, a free parade. It's free for the people, but it costs the organization money."

"The Mermaid Parade day is the single busiest day in Coney Island, period. End of story. We bring in a few hundred thousand people between marchers and spectators, and that is a boom for the economy for that day."

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade, a 40-year tradition held annually in June, is at risk due to mounting financial difficulties at Coney Island USA, the nonprofit organization behind the event. The organization has struggled to recover from COVID-19 pandemic impacts, with declining tourism and rising operational costs straining resources. The free parade requires substantial upfront funding despite generating no admission revenue. Organizers launched a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $15,000 as of March 19. The parade attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, providing significant economic benefits to local businesses, restaurants, and bars throughout Coney Island and Brighton Beach during the summer season.

Read at Brooklyn Paper