Mermaid Parade: Coney Island’s annual Mermaid Parade kicks off its 34th year at 1 p.m. June 18. The nation’s oldest art parade starts at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue and ends at Steeplechase Plaza. Don’t miss participants dressed in hand-made costumes on creative floats. After the parade, Queen Mermaid and King Neptune process to the beach to open the ocean for the summer. Visit www.coneyisland.com to find out how to participate and view the parade.
Bourbon Bash: NYC celebrates National Bourbon Day with eight of Kentucky’s finest bourbons. From noon to 10 p.m. June 18, visit some of NYC’s best venues to enjoy bourbon. From the Gramercy Ale House to The Copper Still, enjoy tastes of bourbon and light food. A portion of all ticket sales benefits FreeArts NYC, a nonprofit that helps underserved children explore the creative arts. All ticket holders must check in between noon and 3 p.m. General admission tickets are $65. Visit www.nycbourbonbash.com to see the full list of venues and purchase tickets.
New York Pet Expo: The fourth annual pet expo takes place on June 18 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and 19 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at the Brooklyn Expo Center. General admission is $8. Kids under 12 and pets enter for free. The weekend includes exhibitors, prizes, adoption opportunities, discounted vaccines and free nail trims, the newest pet products and various other information about pets from grooming to training. One highlight is a pet costume contest. Visit www.newyorkpetexpo.com for more info.
Adventures NYC: On Saturday, June 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., experience adventures in Central Park. Enter at 72nd street for access to the Bandshell Area for the free event. Celebrate the great outdoors with a variety of activities including rock climbing, yoga and obstacle races. Also included is outdoor gear exhibits. Visit www.nycgovparks.org for more information.
NYC Dance Week: Ever dreamed of being a dancer? This is your opportunity. From June 16-25, enjoy free dance classes. The goal is to promote the diversity of dance in NYC at local dance and fitness studios. Classes include ballroom, Latin, tap, swing, ballet, hip-hop, yoga and aerial acrobatics. Classes are first come, first serve. Some studios have restrictions, like only being open to new students and some classes require advanced registration. Visit www.nycdanceweek.org to peruse participating studios and classes.
