Music is (literally) in the air, a zany parade kicks off the celebrating in the streets, plus: Father’s Day ideas for brunch and beyond.

Coney Island Mermaid Parade
The Mermaid Parade is the nation’s largest art parade. It’s a great excuse to visit Coney Island USA and down some clams and beer while watching the city’s wackiest undersea creatures dance in the streets. Register your own crew or just watch. The parade starts on Saturday, June 18 at 2 p.m. at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue and rolls eastward. The Mermaid Parade Ball rages from 7-11:30 p.m.. The parade is free for spectators, registration fees vary for participants; afterparty: Tickets: $25 - $75.

Museum Mile Festival
“New York’s Biggest Block Party” gets you free admission to some of the city’s finest museums between 6 and 9 p.m. and opens the surrounding streets to pedestrians as well as live music, art-in-the-streets and more. Participating museums include Cooper-Hewitt, The Guggenheim, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Fashion and culture fiends: don’t miss the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibit.), the Neue Galerie New York and more.
Tuesday, June 14, 6-9 p.m.

Northside Music Festival
Buoyed by the success of last year’s four-day showcase, Williamsburg and Greenpoint’s finest—and plenty of out-of-town talent—return to confirm the neighborhood’s top spot on the coolness map. The festival is one of the best, with performances by Guided by Voices, Sharon Van Etten, Beirut, Wavves and more. Top venues participate, but look for impromptu concerts (as well as brainy panel discussions, art, food and exhibitions) everywhere.
June 16-19; tickets, schedule and info here.

The Governor’s Ball Music Festival
The lineup is fantastic (mashup master Girl Talk, Big Boi from Outkast, Indie darlings Neon Indian and hip-hoppers Das Racist just to name a few), the setting is lovely and you get to go back home and sleep in your own apartment afterwards. How can you lose?
Saturday, June 18, 12 p.m. - 11 p.m. (schedule is here.)
Governor’s Island, directions and info here.
Tickets: $95-$150

Make Music New York
This live, free musical celebration across New York City takes place each June 21—the longest day of the year. From 11 in the morning to 10 at night, musicians of all ages, creeds, and musical persuasions perform on streets, sidewalks, stoops, plazas, cemeteries, parks and gardens. MMNY happens simultaneously with similar festivities around the world and is open to anyone who wants to take part. Look for one-of-a-kind happenings like Yoko Ono’s Secret Piece at sunrise in Central Park and a screening of the documentary, “Gainsbourg and His Girls,” at Summerstage. Highlights, locations and info can be found here.

Father’s Day (Sunday, June 19): Brunch and Beyond
Time Out New York and OpenTable bring you even more ways the whole family can show Pop he’s tops.