Sunshine, happy kids, and Cyclone screams usher In the summer season at Luna Park

Scenes from Saturday's opening day at Coney Island

State Senator Diane Savino, standing on the creaky wooden loading platform of the 95-year-old Cyclone, grabbed a bottle of chocolate egg cream by the neck—and smashed it right below the logo on the historic roller coaster’s front car.

With that, Coney Island’s 2022 amusement park season officially began Saturday. And after a load of VIPs—elected officials, Luna Park execs—helped themselves to the first ride, the regular folks, many of whom had been out on Surf Avenue waiting for this moment since 6:00 a.m., clambered aboard, led by Eric Knapp, the superfan locally known as “Mr. Cyclone.”

State Senator Diane Savino ready for for the egg cream christening (Scott Lynch)

“This would have been my 18th opening day in a row,” Knapp told Brooklyn Magazine. “But it’s really only 17 years, because of the pandemic we didn’t open at all in 2020. I grew up in Bensonhurst, four stops on the N train, this is my backyard, and I’ve gone on over 2,000 rides on the Cyclone. It still feels exciting every time. I’ll never let the kid inside of me leave. It’s part of my childhood. I’ve been riding it since 1973. You just can’t let it go.”

Eric Knapp, “Mr. Cyclone,” first on line for his 17th opening day (Scott Lynch)

Prior to the christening there were speeches by politicians (Brooklyn native Senator Chuck Schumer recalled riding the Cyclone when he was 9 years old, though he didn’t partake on Saturday), free egg creams courtesy of Brooklyn Seltzer, and a rousing performance by the Brooklyn United drum and dance corps.

Brooklyn United drum corps (Scott Lynch)

Brooklyn United dancers (Scott Lynch)

Dick Zigun, the “permanently unelected Mayor of Coney Island,” was on hand, dressed for the part in an elegant top hat and deflecting questions about his ousting from Coney Island USA, the nonprofit he co-founded, Zigun gamely. “Today is just a beautiful sunny day as Coney Island reopens and we can all share in that,” he said.

Zigun with the key to Coney (Scott Lynch)

(Tik Tok superstar Buddy the Rat was scurrying around the scene as well, much to the delight of some, and vague confusion to everyone else.)

Buddy the Rat (Scott Lynch)

Luna Park, of course, has some 30 other rides in addition to the Cyclone. Alessandro Zamperla, president and CEO of Central Amusement International, the developers behind the theme park, promised that a few more would open later this summer, including a combined flume-roller coaster cryptically called “J2SK.”

Unlimited-ride wristbands were only $20 on Saturday, with all proceeds going to three local non-profits: Children of Promise, Operation H.O.O.D., and the Coney Island Sharks youth football league. Once the gates were open and the kids poured in, shrieks of joy—or terror? a bit of both?—could be heard all up and down the boardwalk.

Coney Island Sharks youth footballers wait for their turn to ride (Scott Lynch)

Opening day for the adjacent Deno’s Wonder Wheel amusement park, complete with the traditional Blessing of the Rides, is next Sunday, April 10. Both parks will be open only on weekends until Memorial Day, when summer hours kick in. The only exception: Easter week/NYC public school spring break, April 18 – 22, during which both places will be running their rides every day. Boardwalk food-and-booze favorites Paul’s Daughter, Nathan’s, and Ruby’s are all now open as well.

Here are a few more views from the day’s festivities.