Seattle is about to bare itself to the world.

The big picture: World Cup visitors (and us locals) looking for an hilariously authentic experience this weekend can count a slew of naked cyclists pedaling through Fremont as one uniquely Seattle option.

Driving the news: The Fremont Solstice Parade returns Saturday, led by the famed Solstice Cyclists — wearing little more than elaborate body paint — and followed by giant puppets, handmade floats, dancers, stilt walkers and more.

• The celebration coincides with the two-day Fremont Fair, which brings live music, food vendors, a sprawling craft market and other festivities to the neighborhood throughout the weekend.

If you go: Go early to get a good spot. The parade steps off at 1pm, and the cyclists are expected to roll through starting around noon.

Zoom in: For many riders, the day begins hours before anyone pedals through Fremont.

• Solstice Cyclists gather across the city at painting parties, where bodies and bicycles are transformed into colorful works of art before heading to the parade route.
• Organizers advise riders to wear sunscreen beneath the paint, bring water and snacks, wear a helmet and prepare to have their photo taken "a million times."

Flashback: The Fremont Solstice Parade debuted in 1989 as an arts-focused celebration of the summer solstice.

• A few years later, a handful of nude cyclists unofficially joined the festivities.
• Not everyone was amused. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, city officials warned riders that they could face arrest for indecent exposure.
• The eventual compromise: body paint — with the idea being that painted cyclists became art.

Between the lines: In a city transformed by decades of growth, the parade remains a throwback to Seattle's proudly quirky artistic roots.

• The event bans corporate sponsorships, logos and advertising, keeping the focus on community art, creativity and participation.

The bottom line: For first-time visitors, hundreds of painted cyclists rolling through Fremont might seem a little unusual.

• For Seattleites, it's one of the surest signs of summer.

Pass it on

Visitors will get a rare chance this weekend to step aboard floating pieces of Pacific Northwest history — including several 100-year-old wooden yachts.

Driving the news: The Classic Yacht Association's 29th annual Bell Harbor Classic Weekend is offering free public tours of about 40 historic vessels moored along Seattle's waterfront.

• The event's marquee attraction is the Centennial Fleet, a collection of yachts celebrating their 100th birthdays in 2026.

If you go: The event runs Saturday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm at Bell Harbor Marina on Pier 66.

• Admission is free.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Malibu (100 feet, built in 1926) is one of the largest and most famous vessels in the show. Built in Seattle, the yacht sank in the San Juan Islands in 2002 before being raised and restored. It is now a Seattle Historic Landmark.
• Winifred (46 feet, built in 1926) was constructed on Lake Union for the son of Olympia Brewing founder Leopold Schmidt.
• Corsair II (50 feet, built in 1926) was commissioned for Alaska mapping expeditions and is rumored to have served as a rum-running vessel during Prohibition.
• Faun (36 feet, built in 1926) patrolled Lake Union during World War II as part of a Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla.

Tell a boat lover

💡 Seattle City Light is proposing one of its biggest rate hikes in years — about 9.5% in each of the next two years. (Seattle Times)

💃 A Seattle swing dance school is spotlighting and reviving the art form's queer roots ahead of Pride season celebrations. (KNKX)

👀 A new southern resident orca calf was spotted this week, a hopeful sign for the endangered killer whale population. (KING 5)

🚋 Seattle's streetcar lines both saw jumps in ridership between 2024 and 2025.

• Use of the South Lake Union streetcar rose 26%, while ridership on the First Hill streetcar rose 6%. (KIRO 7)

Washington is among at least 33 states giving most state government workers a paid day off tomorrow for Juneteenth, according to the Pew Research Center.

• Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
• Washington lawmakers voted to make it a paid state holiday in 2021, the same year it became a federal holiday.

Go deeper

Across Seattle this week, you'll find community festivals, live music, cultural programming and family-friendly events celebrating Juneteenth.

Here are a few to check out:

🎤 Summer of Soul Juneteenth Freedom Fest: The annual outdoor bash will feature live music, food vendors, cultural performances, local organizations and family activities. 1–8pm Friday at Jimi Hendrix Park.

🛼 Juneteenth: The Sound of Connection at NAAM: The Northwest African American Museum is offering free admission tomorrow, with a celebration that will include hands-on family activities, performances and a World Cup watch party.

• The museum's popular Skate to Freedom event will take place at nearby Judkins Park from noon to 5pm tomorrow.

💿 Seattle Juneteenth Community Celebration: This HBCU-themed block party will feature DJs, a market and a kids zone in the heart of downtown Seattle. 9am–6pm tomorrow.

⚽️ Freedom and Futbol: Head to Midtown Square in the Central District for food, music and a noon viewing party for the U.S. team's World Cup match vs. Australia. 11am–4pm tomorrow.

🎙️ Revival Juneteenth Market: This pop-up market in Midtown Square will feature a live broadcast from KEXP DJs, performances, food vendors and plenty of Black-owned businesses. Noon–5pm Saturday.

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