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Seattle celebrates what could be final Fremont Solstice Parade

SEATTLE — The procession of naked bodies covered in paint on bicycles is what a lot of people think of when it comes to the Fremont Solstice Parade, but it’s so much more.

“This is part of our creative culture of Seattle,” said organizer Maque daVis. “Part of the cache of Fremont is to be inspired, to be creative.”

These parade floats embody that creativity for daVis. But now in its 29th year, the parade's future is in jeopardy if organizers can’t find a place to store the floats, about 15 in all.

“Without them, we aren’t going to be much of a parade next year,” daVis added.

The Fremont Arts Council, which puts on the parade, had been leasing space from the city to store the floats. But the city can't renew their permit this year because of construction, so organizers have been scrambling to find a new home.

For Davis, a founding member of the council and someone who has been with the parade since its inception, this is personal. The parade saved him 29 years ago.

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“I was actually clinically depressed. I was in auto accident, lost my ability to be an athlete that climbed mountains, has rafted rivers, kayaked. I couldn’t do (it) anymore and I was depressed,” daVis revealed. “Someone said, 'Go to this thing. It will make you feel good.' Yes, it did. I'm now an artist.”

It also means a lot to longtime attendees like Judy Nasmith, who hasn't missed a Solstice parade in 17 years, even though she moved to Bellingham. She and her friends staked out a spot long before the parade started.

“It's such a joyous occasion,” Nasmith said. “The free spirit, just a lot of fun.”

The Arts Council has until August 7 to find a new home for the floats.

Davis said they need about 2,000 square feet for all of them or "about eight driveways" worth of space.

“We're asking for any help to store the parade floats, or all of them,” daVis explained. “Even one would be good.”

If they can't, daVis will have to personally break down the floats.

“It would be really heartbreaking,” daVis said, “I've invested a lot. It's painful.”

For now, daVis is holding out hope that someone will step forward so the parade can go on.

If you want to help, call the Fremont Arts Council at (206) 547-7440.