True to its heritage as the "playground for the people," Coney Island still offers plenty of free activities and opportunities for cheap fun. Plans are underfoot for changes and new developments in Coney Island, but meanwhile, the activities below cost only the price of the subway ride there and home again.
- Watch the Mermaid Parade
Words cannot describe the irreverent, artistic, wildly popular Mermaid Parade in Coney Island. It is downright silly, and that's the key to its success. The Mermaid Parade celebrates the symbolic opening of Coney Island's beach season every June 19th, rain or shine. Expect a crush of people: a mix of locals, European tourists, hipsters, families, the tattooed and un-tatooed, grannies, wierdos, and, of course, kids. One of New York City's best parades, it includes a breathtaking show of antique cars, occasionally driven by a middle-aged person wearing a fish costume. Once marginal, the Mermaid Parade has become such a hit that one can now buy tickets for better viewing. - Attend Free Summer Concerts at Asser Levy/Seaside Park
Seaside Summer Concerts have entertained huge crowds for over thirty years. Programs feature a combination of popular musical artists, including some of the biggest names in the business. Arrive early to claim your wiggle room; this claims to be the largest free outdoor music series in New York, and they don't supply many seats. - Enjoy Friday Fireworks on the Boardwalk
For totally free Coney Island fun, you can watch fireworks over the Atlantic Ocean beach every Friday night during the summer. It's hard to beat the combo: the smell of the ocean, the sounds of street musicians and pedestrians, the amusement park behind you, and fireworks lighting up the dark summer sky. That said, watch your wallet. - Stroll the Coney Island Boardwalk to Brighton Beach
> Enjoy ocean breezes and views of Coney Island’s stadium and amusement park: both the people-watching and scenery are great free entertainment. For pure Brooklyn history, there's nothing like a view of the historic Parachute Jump and Cyclone roller coaster. The boardwalk runs past the New York Aquarium and all the way to the Russian neighborhood of Brighton Beach, which feels like a different country. - Watch the Annual July 4th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
Watch 20 ridiculously hungry contestants stuff themselves for a $20,000 total cash purse. Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating contest, sponsored by the original Nathan's stand in Coney Island, reputedly began in about 1916. Recent winners have consumed as many as 54 hot dogs and buns in ten minutes. It's free-and you won't be the one to go home with a stomach ache. - Go to Coney Island’s Atlantic Ocean Beach
Enjoy three miles of public beach along the Atlantic Ocean. Nearby are free volleyball, handball, and basketball courts, as well as playgrounds. Beware the riptides, though; swim only when lifeguards are on duty. - Take a Free Walking Tour of Historic Coney Island
The nonprofit group Save Coney Island organizes informative, and free, walking tours. - Learn about Coney Island at the Coney Island Museum
True Coney Island fans have a taste for the bizarre and zany. The Coney Island Museum is the brainchild of Dick Zigun, a Yale-trained theater professional who has made Coney Island his passion for over twenty years. The memorabilia here, which commemorates Coney Island’s vaudeville and amusement park history, is worth the almost-free price of admission: 99 cents.
