NY1 continues its One City, Many Mayors series in Coney Island, where a tattooed, parade-loving, performing artist has spent decades crafting ideas for the neighborhood, many of which have become tradition.

From fire-breathers to sword-swallowers, the freaks come out daily during Coney Island's beach season.

The Circus Sideshow is home of the wacky arts.

"A national center of Americano bizarro. Where else but Coney Island?" said Dick Zigun, the "Mayor of Coney Island."

Zigun is the operator of the sideshow, the creator of the Coney Island Museum and the inventor of the Mermaid Parade, now in its 34th year.

"Even before we did the first parade, people laughed because mermaids don't have feet and how could mermaids walk?" Zigun said. "So it's a bit ridiculous, and an art parade should be a little ridiculous."

And it's a hit, attracting 3,000 artists and more than half a million spectators.

Every year, Zigun gets into character. He's the mayor. He dons a sash, carries a drum and puts on a top hat. He also wears an old-fashioned bathing suit, a throwback to Coney Island's heyday.

But more comes with the mayoralty: the key to Coney Island.

"It opens nothing whatsoever," Zigun said. "Although sometimes, on opening day, I like to go around doing this, pretending I'm unlocking rides that have been closed for the winter."

Zigun made Coney Island his home in 1979 after graduating from the Yale School of Drama.

"I had this wacky idea that Coney Island could be a staging ground," he said.

Zigun helped lead the landmarks designation of the Shore Theater, the former Child's restaurant on the boardwalk and the former Child's restaurant on Surf Avenue, now the headquarters for Zigun's Coney Island USA arts organization. He restored Coney Island's oldest game, the 1940s shooting gallery, and just launched a space as a speakeasy. But his efforts this week are to successfully pull off what's become the country's largest arts parade.   

The Mermaid Parade kicks off on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m..

When Zigun needs extra inspiration, all he has to do is look up. He's surrounded by Surf, Neptune and Mermaid avenues.