Freemont Street Solstice Parade in Seattle - Seattle welcomed summer yesterday with its 16th annual Solstice Parade, a joyous, 75-minute celebration of all things wild and pagan.

"I love it, because it's not 64 big sparkly floats with beauty queens on top waving, and people politely applauding when they go by," said volunteer traffic controller Chelsea Teller, who coordinated her neon safety vest with orange-and-white clown makeup. "It's people being free, artistic souls, in all their whimsical splendor."

Sierra Willoughby, 34, was among about 50 nude bicyclists who opened the parade, drawing riotous cheers and applause from spectators lining the roughly two-mile parade route through the heart of Fremont.