I think that the Mermaid Parade started as a "beginning of summer" + art parade. Here's a link to the official Mermaid Parade site. In addition to the parade there is a ritual "appeasing of the sea gods" and opening the beach for the summer. It involves King Neptun and the parade participants tossing fruit into the sea (and sometimes at each other).

In any case, I think the development resistance angle is very new. I don't remember that from the past two years.

I'd love to hear from folks about similar events around the country. Thanks for the links to the Santa Barbara and Seattle events. Others?

...because public space really matters!

Elizabeth