'Blessing of the Rides' Kicks Off the 2024 Coney Island Amusement Park Season
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Coney Island’s iconic amusement parks reopened for the 2024 season with the annual blessing of the rides, which attracted hundreds of thrill-seekers to the People’s Playground on Sunday for their chance to take one of the first rides of the year.
Palm Sunday’s storied “Blessing of the Rides” ceremony kicked off on the historic Riegelmann Boardwalk right outside of Luna Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, where community leaders and elected officials gathered for the joyous occasion of opening to visitors for the spring.
Considered a landmark in its own right, the 15-story Wonder Wheel may soon be officially designated an historic site, according to State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. She announced Sunday that the amusement has officially been nominated for inclusion in the New York State Historical Preservation registry.
