Brooklyn's wildest and most eclectic party returned to Coney Island over the weekend, with the annual Mermaid Parade drawing thousands of participants and onlookers from all around the country.

Celebrating its 35th year, the parade attracted revelers from throughout the boroughs to kick off the summer with nautical-themed costumes and brightly colored art. Every year, the parade anoints a new King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, the parade's royal couple. This year, the parade's royalty were Debbie Harry and Chris Stein of the band Blondie.

"That was really great!" Xinwei from the Nanyang Technological University enthused. "All of the costumes were amazing to look at, and the whole crowd was having a great time."

CCIP, an EVP J-1 Intern program sponsored by FUSIA, brings students from East Asia to intern in New York City. While the exchange visitors are here, they have many opportunities to experience some of the region's most unique events. The Mermaid Parade certainly fits that description, and year after year, it is one of the most talked-about activities the exchange visitors experience.

Before the group attended the parade, they gathered to make paper cut honors, handmade gifts that are given to each year's hosts and program supporters. CCIP relies on the many community and business leaders who support the program each year, and the personal paper cut honors are just one way in which the program leaders and participants can show their appreciation.

"I'm grateful to everyone who makes this program a possibility," Karen from the City University of Hong Kong said. "The experiences I've already had in my short time in New York will be with me forever, and I probably never would have had them if not for joining CCIP."