Seattle's famous naked bike parade is here for solstice

Revel in Seattle's artsy glory at the 33rd annual Fremont Solstice Parade , the celebration at the " Center of the Universe ."

Why it matters: In a rapidly changing city, the Solstice Parade and adjacent events are a reminder of Fremont's — and Seattle's — proudly weird past, with naked cyclists , flamboyant homemade parade floats and the kind of summer cheer you can only have in a city so accustomed to soggy weather.

Driving the news: The parade steps off at 1pm Saturday, but get there early to get a good spot to watch.

• The parade route follows North 36th Street, hangs a right on Evanston and then another right onto 35th, where it hits the Fremont Fair's craft market (and a giant slide).
• For many, the party continues in the beer garden, local bars and nearby Gas Works Park.

Participation in the parade is open to every artist and everyone can be an artist, per the Fremont Arts Council .

• Feel free to strip naked, get your paint on and join the Solstice Cyclists , interact with performers or join in a dance along the way.
• The parade does not allow corporate sponsors, printed words and logos or motorized vehicles (other than electric wheelchairs).
• Non-service-animal pets are also not allowed (but there is a dog parade on Sunday).

Pro tip: "Apply sunscreen and give it time to soak in before applying paints," Tom Fucoloro of Seattle Bike Blog writes to nude riders. "If you have skin that tans and burns and don't wear sunscreen, you'll have your painted design imprinted as tan lines for the rest of summer."

Flashback: Low rents and "benign neglect" made Fremont a mecca for artists in the 1960s, which launched a mini-renaissance over the next few decades, per HistoryLink .

• Founded in 1989 by Barbara Luecke and Peter Toms, who were inspired by the Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Celebration , the Solstice Parade celebrates art, life and the longest day of the year.
• The Painted Cyclists are quintessentially old Seattle — and, many say, the highlight of the parade — but nude biking events have been hosted in cities across the world as a way to celebrate cycling and the human body.

Yes, but: There are quiet ways to celebrate the solstice weekend, too:

• Dance — clothed or otherwise — in your own space to music you like.
• Try a sun salutation , plant healing herbs , set out water for the birds or create a mandala from things you find.