For over 40 years, New York's most creative characters have been gathering in Coney Island to participate in the Mermaid Parade. There's no ethnic, religious, or political connection between participants, but locals call it the official opening of summer in the city. In this episode of GATHERINGS, VICE host Jackson Garrett hitches a ride to Coney Island to find out what NYC's oddest tradition means to those who celebrate it. They say we’ve never been lonelier, and society is circling the drain of toxic individualism. We are told nothing can bring us together, but some events are still worth coming together for. In our series GATHERINGS, we explore the communities and events that make people feel like they belong. Special thanks to CitySoul.nyc and Larry Racioppo for assisting in the production of this video. Subscribe to VICE and get exclusive early access to our documentaries, as well as 4 issues of the recently revived VICE magazine each year: vice.com/en/youtubeme...