On a hot, sunny afternoon, Coney Island is packed with strollers, couples in locked hands and generations of families. But above the crash of waves and the roar of the Cyclone, a quieter story unfolds ...

Fantastical sea creatures, mystical merfolk, antic cars, marching bands and dance troupes took over Coney Island on June 21, showcasing their splashy creativity at the 43rd annual Mermaid Parade ...