The 37th Annual Mermaid Parade took place along Surf Avenue and the Coney Island boardwalk in New York on Saturday. It occurred the same weekend as the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and official start of summer. /VCG Photo

The Mermaid Parade might be the nation's largest art parade to celebrate art and culture. Thousands of participants dressed in handmade costumes of mermaids, sea creatures and mythical figures. /VCG Photo

When arts advocate Dick Zigun moved to Coney Island in the 1970s, he found many traces of mermaids such as nautical stone figures, even street names, to "prove" the existence of mermaids. /VCG Photo

The parade is organized by the nonprofit Coney Island USA. A queen mermaid and King Neptune were crowned this year as usual. /VCG Photo