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. Watch the full video on @VICE. About VICE: The Definitive Guide To Enlightening Information. From every corner of the planet, our immersive, caustic, ground-breaking and often bizarre stories have changed the way people think about culture, crime, art, parties, fashion, protest, the internet and other subjects that don't even have names yet. Browse the growing library and discover corners of the world you never knew existed. Welcome to VICE. #NYC #MermaidParade #ConeyIsland