With tens of thousands of people crammed shoulder to shoulder, five or more deep, to watch the Solstice Parade in Fremont, we’re always amazed by how mellow things are on the Wallingford side of the parade. Maybe people want to be in Fremont for the Fremont Solstice Parade? (Not that we’re complaining.)
Here’s the experience nearer Wallingford’s Gas Works Park, the terminus for the 22-year-old annual parade that celebrates the beginning of summer and all things imaginative, human-powered, and, oh yes, naked.
Shortly after noon, the first naked bicyclists began to coast into view near Gas Works Park, where they hydrate, compare goosebumps (maybe just this year), perhaps don some clothes, and head to the top of Kite Hill.
On the parade route, the cyclists whiz past spectators. Down by Gas Works, the views are up close and personal.
Photographers must know to get their nude-biker shots at the end of the road; they often outnumbered the cyclists posing for pictures.
After the cyclists, we had a long wait for the actual parade to begin. By 1:00, people around were wondering aloud why it was starting late.
At around 1:10 up at Stone Way, the bekilted traffic controller shouted that he could see the parade — where it turned all the way up at Fremont Ave. The parade fans cheered.
All along the road leading to Gas Works (N. Northlake Way) the crowd was fairly thin — only two or three people deep in most spots. Just around the bend, at Stone Way and N. 34th, the spectators were much more tightly packed.
The parade began around 1:30, a half hour later than in recent years, a parade veteran told us. By the time they make it to Wallingford, some of the paraders are a little weary; it can’t be easy to bellydance, hula hoop, dance or cavort for 90 minutes nonstop. They put on a terrific show for an enthusiastic audience.
People laid down on the ground so this big ball could roll over them. The ball became a highlight of the Solstice Celebration at Gas Works Park after the parade ended. Its owner supervised as kids pushed the ball up Kite Hill and ran down the hill with it.
After a half hour, the owner began the hour-long deflation process.
The most unexpected — and welcome — part of the day? We didn’t feel a drop of rain from noon on. Happy Solstice indeed.
See many more pictures from the parade at our sister site Fremont Universe.
It would be interesting to know how many gallons of paint were applied to the “naked” bikers. The creativity of paint jobs has certainly increased this year. Lots of really creative stuff this year.