Coney Island has Mermaid Parade whose 2013 edition seems still up in the air post Sandy.
Vermont beats them in June with Strolling of the Heifers Weekend (June 7-9) in Brattleboro.
Wondering which of the 2 events is most colorful? Check them both.
I discovered Strolling of the Heifers via a piece on Tracey Medeiros, author of The Vermont Farm Table Cookbook published by local imprint Countryman Press in May 2013. She will be present at the event.
(* Strolling of the Heifers image from their Facebook page)