Fremont Solstice Parade. Photograph by Grant M. Haller
Seattle will soon welcome summer the same way it does every year: With naked, painted bicycle riders.
The most noted part of the Solstice Parade in Fremont, the naked cyclists will take to the street June 16 to celebrate the start of summer ? just a few days early. (But really, there won?t likely be much sun if past years are any indication.)
Seattle rides naked
Nude bikers at the front of the Fremont Solstice Parade in 2011. Photograph by Grant M. Haller
Laughing at their photos of nude bikers in Fremont Solstice Parade in 2011. Photograph by Grant M. Haller
Fremont Solstice Parade in 2011. Photograph by Grant M. Haller
Fremont Solstice Parade in 2011. Photograph by Grant M. Haller
Fremont Solstice Parade in 2011. Photograph by Grant M. Haller
Fremont Solstice Parade in 2011. Photograph by Grant M. Haller
Taylor Roozen prepares to ride his bicycle - sporting only body paint - during the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
A painted cyclist participates in the popular ride during the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
Painted cyclists participate in the popular ride during the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
Painted cyclists participate in the popular ride during the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
Painted cyclists participate in the popular ride during the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
A painted cyclist participates in the popular ride during the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
A painted cyclist participates in the popular ride during the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
A sign attempts to limit nudity near the staging area for nude bicyclists before the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
Naked and painted bicyclists begin their ride toward Ballard and eventually into the lead of the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
Painted - and nude - bicyclists pump themselves up to ride in a light drizzle before the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
Naked bicycle riders prepare to ride during the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
A naked cyclists pops a wheelie during the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
Painted cyclists participate in the popular ride during the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday June 19, 2010 in Seattle. Photo: Seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo / SL
Naked bicyclists open up the start of the annual Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday, June 18, 2011. (Photo by Daniel Berman, special to seattlepi.com) (DANIEL BERMAN / DANIEL BERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BERMANPHOTOS.COM )
Let?s just hope that body paint doesn?t wash off.
While we?re on the topic of body paint, participants in this year?s parade should know it?s not all fun and games. There are rules to follow.
Rules about where you aim your personal bits, for example.
The guidelines go a little something like this, according to the Fremont Arts Council:
Don?t be creepy. Seriously. Don?t stare at people. Don?t take photographs without permission. If you?re not getting painted or helping someone get painted,?don?t come.
Be respectful of your fellow painters. The painting party is tight quarters, so try to be mindful of other people getting painted around you.
Be respectful of your fellow cyclists. We?re a big group on a narrow street, and accidents may happen! Ride safely and try to be mindful of other cyclists.
Be respectful of other parade participants. We are just one part of the parade. Be sure to give room to the floats and dancers. Never circle back among the other participants!
Be respectful of parade spectators. The Fremont Solstice Parade is a family friendly event. Of course, folks expect the painted cyclists, but they may not want your junk in their kid?s face. Use good judgment when interacting with spectators.
Good rules in general, considering Seattle?s fascination with public nudity. (And while you?re at it, they say you should wear a helmet.)
Naked Seattle
This won't be Seattle's first undie run. University of Washington students regularly coordinate a stripped-down sprint across campus.
Those runs are also for charitable causes...
Though we suspect some people just do it for an excuse to act goofy in their underwear.
One thing you'll learn at an undie run: There's safety in numbers.
That's even more true when the undies come off, like at Seattle's annual Fremont Solstice Parade.
That's where dozens of brave souls strip down, paint up and hop on their bikes.
The Solstice Parade is one of Seattle's true "naked events." Oddly, it's considered a family-friendly affair, so you can bring the kiddos.
Fun trivia fact: Other cities around the world also host naked bike rides -- this one is in London. But Seattle was the first city in the U.S. to start biking in the buff. (Getty Images)
The Naked Pumpkin Run (also in Fremont) is another of Seattle's truly-naked events. The Pumpkin Run happens near Halloween every year, and provides shy people with the option of hiding inside jack-o'-lanterns.
Participants in Seattle's annual No-Pants Light Rail Ride aren't technically naked -- they're just pantless and cold.
But it's still a sight to see on the train...
And at SeaTac Airport, where the event culminates.
Even the protesters go nearly-nude in Seattle. At least, when they're working for PETA. The animal-rights group regularly coordinates demonstrations involving scantly-clad women in Seattle and other major cities.
In Seattle, it's not so shocking. See? The kids love it.
OK, maybe it's a little shocking sometimes.
Visit seattlepi.com?s home page for more Seattle news. Contact Amy Rolph at amyrolph@seattlepi.com. Find more of her stories on Twitter via @amyrolph and @bigblog or subscribe to her updates on Facebook.
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