nyc summer 2025: a coney island of the mind (and body)

Coney Island is a magical place. If you examine its sites individually, you’ll never understand what the attraction is. But taken as a whole, Coney Island is far greater than the sum of its parts. It is filled with history and mystery, with exhilaration and debilitation, with wonder and blunder. Ask five people how Coney Island got its name and you’ll get five different answers. (Many historians lean toward the belief that it derived from the Dutch word for rabbits, which populated the area in the seventeenth century.)

There is no artifice to Coney; what you see is what you get. And what you get is one of the most bizarre, thrilling places in the world, as much a part of New York City as the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Central Park all rolled into one. Don’t go there to see only one or two of the below recommendations; spend the whole day searching out Coney’s amazing character, for every street holds a new adventure — and plenty of unusual characters.

All events take place at 1208 Surf Ave. (Coney Island USA, Coney Island Museum, Shooting Gallery Arts Annex) unless otherwise noted; keep watching this space for information on such other annual favorites as the annual sand sculpting competition as they’re announced by Coney Island USA.

Friday, May 23
A Day on the Boardwalk, a Night at the Strip Show: A Burlesque Tribute to the Marx Brothers, with Dutch Baby, Miss Frankie Eleanor, Gigi Bonbon, Jonny Porkpie, Jo Weldon, Lady Scoutington, Peekaboo Pointe, Susie Dahl, Adam Realman, and Tigger!, Coney Island USA, $25, 9:00

Saturday, May 24
Coney Island Marx Brothers Weekend: 3D screening of The Cocoanuts (Robert Florey & Joseph Santley, 1929), introduced by Noah Diamond, Coney Island Museum, $5, 1:00

Coney Island Marx Brothers Weekend: The Marx Brothers vs. the Man panel discussion with Noah Diamond, Jennifer Miller, Trav S.D., Kathy Biehl, and Steve Jaffee, Coney Island Museum, $5, 3:00

Coney Island Marx Brothers Weekend: You Brett Your Life, with Brett Leveridge and Noah Diamond, Coney Island Museum, $5, 5:00

Coney Island Marx Brothers Weekend: A Day on the Boardwalk, a Night at the Strip Show: A Burlesque Tribute to the Marx Brothers, Coney Island USA, $25, 8:00

Sunday, May 25
Coney Island Marx Brothers Weekend: 3D screening of The Cocoanuts (Robert Florey & Joseph Santley, 1929), introduced by Trav S.D., Coney Island Museum, $5, 5:00

Tuesday, May 27
Bark in the Park, the Brooklyn Cyclones vs. the Aberdeen IronBirds, Maimonides Park, $18.50, 6:00

Friday, May 30
The Black Cherry Sideshow by the Seashore, with the Serpent Siren Selena Surreal, the Sideshow Casanova Xaddy Addy, the Professor of Grotesque Klondyke, the Hellfire Daredevil Oliver Herface, and the Pretty Brown Clown Clawdette Smm Smm, Coney Island USA, $25-$45, 9:00

Saturday, May 31
Halfway to Halloween, the Brooklyn Cyclones vs. the Aberdeen IronBirds, 6:00

Little Brooklyn presents: LIVE from Coney Island a show that happens to be on a SATURDAY NIGHT, Coney Island USA, $25, 9:00

Friday, June 6
through
Sunday, June 8
Ocean Shell-a-bration Weekend, Coney Island Aquarium, 602 Surf Ave., free - $32.95, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Saturday, June 7
Natural Born! Circus, Sideshow and the Art of Being Human, by Aaron Smith, book launch with Lisa B. Lewis, Jim R. Moore, James Taylor, Laure Leber, and Nati Amos the Patchwork Girl, Shooting Gallery Arts Annex, free, 4:00

Black (S)excellence II, with Vera Safire, Uncle Freak, Miscellaneous DomTop, Cashlee Banks, Sapphic Fire, Jack Rabbit Slims, and Queerly Femmetastic, hosted by the magnetic Junior Mintt, Coney Island USA, $25, 9:00

Tuesday, June 10
Bark in the Park, the Brooklyn Cyclones vs. the Asheville Tourists, Maimonides Park, $18.50, 6:00

Saturday, June 14
Hand in the Hole 5: The Whole Fist!, with Peekaboo Pointe, Dusty Childers, Little Brooklyn, La Daniella, Bibi Knockers, Dutch Baby, Monica Lark , Tiger Bay and Fancy Feast, and Chemical X and Muna M. Muhsin, hosted by Glenn Marla, Coney Island USA, $25, 9:00

Thursday, June 19
through
Thursday, July 24
Burlesque Master Class, every Thursday with Headmistress Jo Weldon, Coney Island Museum, $395, 6:30

Saturday, June 21
The 43rd Annual Mermaid Parade, Coney Island USA, free, 1:00

Friday, June 27
Prideshow at the Sideshow, with Artina Darkly the Dazzling Darkness, Maxxxim the Brighton Beach Princess, Reina Nobuena Brooklyn’s Boopity Babe, and Xaddy Addy the Sideshow Casanova, Coney Island USA, $20, 8:00

Saturday, June 28
Bounce House: A Burlesque Celebration of Body Abundance!, with Abby Fantastic, Lillian Bustle, Jewelissa, Queen Zinga, Boxa Crayonz, Nina Divina, and Tutu Nasty, Coney Island USA, $20, 9:00

Sunday, June 29
Widget Cap and Ice Cream Sunday, the Brooklyn Cyclones vs. the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, Maimonides Park, 2:00

Friday, July 4
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, with defending champions Patrick Bertoletti and Miki Sudo, corner of Surf & Stillwell Aves., noon

Sunday, July 6
Sandy the Seagull Socks and Ice Cream Sunday, the Brooklyn Cyclones vs. the Hudson Valley Renegades, Maimonides Park, 2:00

Thursday, July 10
Edwin Diaz Bobble Brooklyn Jefes, and Everyone Runs the Bases Night, the Brooklyn Cyclones vs. the Wilmington Blue Rocks, Maimonides Park, 6:40

Wednesday, July 16
through
Friday, July 18
Mike Meyer Sign Painting Workshop, Coney Island USA, $600-$850, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Saturday, July 26
Such Sights III: Skin Deep, Burlesque at the Beach, Coney Island USA, $25, 9:00

Saturday, August 2
Seinfeld Night, the Brooklyn Cyclones vs. the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, Maimonides Park, 6:00

Monday, August 4
through
Thursday, August 7
Sideshow School: The Basics of Fire Eating and Breathing and Fire Safety, Human Blockhead, the Fundamentals of Sword Swallowing, Bed of Nails, Stunts with Various Traps, Glass Walking, Blade Box, and Electric Chair, Coney Island USA, $1650, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

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Friday, August 15
Pete Alonso “He Did It!” Neon Bobblehead and Fireworks Night, the Brooklyn Cyclones vs. the Hub City Spartanburgers, Maimonides Park, 6:40

Friday, August 29
Bigger Boat Burlesque Presents: A Burlesque Tribute to Jaws’ 50th Anniversary — J.A.W.S. Jiggle and Wiggle Spectacular, with Little Brooklyn, Wae Messed, and others, Coney Island USA, $25, 9:00

Saturday, August 30
Harry Potter Night, the Brooklyn Cyclones vs. the Hudson Valley Renegades, Maimonides Park, 6:00

The Wicked & the Warped — Island at the Edge of the World, Coney Island USA, $25, 9:00

Saturday, September 6
Tigger! presents MAN: A Tease! 60 — My Favorite Things!, Coney Island USA, $25, 9:00

[You can follow Mark Rifkin and This Week in New York every day here.]