By Raechel Dawson, UW News Lab

The summer solstice is just around the corner, which means that Fremont is the place to be this weekend for the annual Fremont Fair and the popular Solstice parade.

The annual fair celebrates the arrival of summer with events that showcase all the quirkiness that resides in the self-proclaimed "Center of the Universe".

Now in its 41st year, the Fremont Fair will actually kick off on Friday, June 15, this year, adding an extra evening so that the Center of the Universe can commemorate summer one day earlier with twice the music, double the beer garden.

As always, the fair celebrates the community's “Delibertas Quirkas” or Freedom to be Peculiar, a motto that comes to life in the popular solstice parade.

Friday night, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., fair goers will be able to relax with summer brews while listening to Kissing Potion, Unite-One, Soul Senate, Lucky Brown and Altered States of P-Funk at the Redhook Main Stage.

“Our production team works hard to get the Fremont Fair staged by Friday, so we decided to let the community in on the fun too,” said Lacey Lybecker in an email exchange.

Lybecker produces the fair with Bold Hat Productions.

The community can expect to see new vendors (out of 300) throughout the fair’s duration. These include Crazy Poppin’ kettle corn, Jemil’s Big Easy (a Cajun food truck) and Pagliacci Pizza.

If shopping’s more your thing, Lybecker said Art of Wings, Five Bamboo and Hawaiian Sun Chairs will also be joining the fair this year.

But long-time returning vendors, like Istanbul lmports, are sure to continue.

While many love to shop and eat great food, Lybecker said, after polling fair goers over the years, she’s discovered the favorite event is the Solstice Parade. It begins Saturday, June 15 at noon and winds its way from Third Avenue Northwest along North 36th Street and ends at Gasworks Park.

Lybecker’s favorite activity is the newly created Puppy Parade, at 2:30 p.m. during Sunday’s Dads & Dogs Day (in lieu of Father’s Day, June 17).

“I’m a dog lover, so I was thrilled to see all the pups strut their stuff in the Fremont Fair’s first annual Puppy Parade [last,” said Lybecker.

Other activities will include the Seattle Art Car Blowout, Yoga for the Solstice, Smell Haiku, ArtCycle and food painting.

To avoid any stress or confusion when getting to the fair, Lybecker strongly suggests taking the bus or bicycling.

She warns, “If you must drive and park, find a spot several blocks down and walk into the fair.”

To find out more, please visit fremontfair.org.