Summer Solstice Parade and Pageant
Encyclopedia
Fremont Arts Council
The Fremont Arts Council is a community-run organization that supports arts and artists. The Council resides in the Fremont, Seattle, Washington, but its members are from throughout the city....
(FAC), an organization that supports the arts and artists in and around the Fremont
Fremont, Seattle, Washington
Fremont is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. Originally a separate city, it was annexed to Seattle in 1891. Named after Fremont, Nebraska, the hometown of two of its founders, L. H. Griffith and E...
neighborhood of Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. Started in 1989 by Barbara Luecke and Peter Toms, the parade quickly grew to tens of thousands of spectators and hundreds of participants. The parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
kicks off the Fremont Fair, a benefit for Solid Ground
Solid Ground (Seattle)
Solid Ground is an anti-poverty and social service organization in Seattle, Washington...
(originally known as the Fremont Public Association). On January 29, 2010, Solid Ground announced that it is turning over ownership of the fair to the Fremont Chamber of Commerce.
Details
The pageantProcession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
, a large-scale community play using over a hundred dancers, musicians and giant puppets, follows the parade at the end of the parade route at Gas Works Park
Gas Works Park
Gas Works Park in Seattle, Washington is a 19.1 acre public park on the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant, located on the north shore of Lake Union at the south end of the Wallingford neighborhood. Gas Works park contains remnants of the sole remaining coal...
. Admission to the fair is free but donations (advertised to end poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, and donated to the Fremont Public Association) are encouraged. The parade is famous for its wild and creative floats and ensembles and for the Solstice Cyclists
Solstice Cyclists
The Solstice Cyclists is an artistic, non-political, clothing-optional bike ride celebrating the Summer Solstice...
who strip down before the parade and paint their bodies
Body painting
Body painting, or sometimes bodypainting, is a form of body art. Unlike tattoo and other forms of body art, body painting is temporary, painted onto the human skin, and lasts for only several hours, or at most a couple of weeks. Body painting that is limited to the face is known as face painting...
unofficially start the parade every year.
The latest fair took place on June 18 and June 19, 2011.
The event distinguishes itself from other mainstream parades with its rules restricting printed words and motor vehicles. As the Fremont Arts Council states:
1. No printed words or recognizable logos.
2. No live animals (except guide animals).
3. No motorized vehicles.
4. No actual weapons.
5. No advertisement or use of printed words during the parade.
The Fremont Solstice Parade was founded by Barbara Luecke and Peter Toms in 1989 who were inspired by the Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Parade
Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Parade
Originating as a birthday celebration, Santa Barbara, California's Summer Solstice Parade began in 1974. This parade was created for Michael Gonzalez, a Santa Barbara resident and a mime and artist...
and Celebration.