Soon after this shot, the queen of hearts and troupe danced for the judges with this on a loud sound box.  That makes for a good day, even though I can’t remember Alice, a rabbit, or the dormouse.  But that’s one of the things I love about the parade . . . good music and dancing.

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After then parade, Gypsy Funk Squad played on . . .  Here’s my phone-recorded sample of King Jack Neptune playing the oud, with a mermaid queen, percussion and dancers.  Hear more oud–related to the lute–here.

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Of course, Dick D. Zigun, honorific mayor of Coney Island,  always leads off the parade with his drum and band.

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I’ve never seen this sort of Mexican dancer in the parade, but they surely raised the bar for quality.

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And of course, mermaids can make politics much more palatable than most politicians or media marketeers.

lead

But mostly, it’s exuberant music and ecstatic dancing.

hapdanc

How many starfish have you seen trumpeting?

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And high octane drumming overcomes stasis.

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Enjoy the photos, the solstice, and the strawberry moon.

oud2

 

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end

Click here for mermaid parade years and here for annual solstice mermaid migration years.

All photos here by Will Van Dorp, who WAS a judge!