For 70 years, the holiness of Palm Sunday has extended well beyond church walls in Brooklyn.
That’s because the day marks the “Blessing of the Rides” and the official season opening of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Coney Island. The tradition continues this coming Sunday, April 13.
The opening ceremony will kick off at 10 a.m. on the Riegelmann Boardwalk at West 12th Street with a blessing by Pastor Mary Smith of the Salt and Sea Mission, speeches from local elected officials and a performance by Broadway actress Aneesa Folds.
Then, the park will be ready to welcome visitors back after a long, cold winter.
“We’re excited to welcome families back to Deno’s for another season of fun and laughter,” said Dennis Vourderis, co-owner of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, in a statement. “The entire park is open this weekend, and we’ve made it even better with our 2025 Big Fun Card — now offering extra-value discount packages to help families make the most of their visits.”
The first 105 people in line will get a free ride on the iconic Wonder Wheel itself, a celebration of the ride’s 105th anniversary. The towering Ferris wheel is the center of the park, and has been in Coney Island for longer than Deno’s itself — founder Denos Vourderis bought the Wonder Wheel in 1983 and built his new amusement park around it.
Today, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park — still owned and operated by Denos’ sons — has more than 20 rides. Most are catered toward young riders, like the Dizzy Dragons, the Tilt-A-Whirl, and the Sea Serpent coaster. But Deno’s has several adult rides, including the twisting Phoenix Roller Coaster, which opened in 2021.
As far as safety goes, the Blessing of the Rides is far from a Hail Mary — each year, each one thoroughly inspected by the city to make sure they’re in top shape.
Opening day comes in the middle of Coney Island’s summer preparations. A little ways down the boardwalk, Luna Park opened for the season on March 23, and the Brooklyn Cyclones played their home opener last week.
“We’re thrilled for what this season has in store in visitors,” said Cindy Vourderis public relations manager for the Alliance for Coney Island. “From the classic thrills of the amusement parks and exciting exhibits at the aquarium and Coney Island History Project, to the great food and exhilarating baseball games, there’s something for everyone.”
Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park will be open weekends through May 18 — except for the week of April 14, spring break, when it will open every day — and will be open every day for the summer from May 23 to Sept. 3. Admission is free, but ride entry is paid or ticketed.
