This month's Nude Women's Day Parade granted permit from city of San Francisco

Participants of the first annual Valentine's Nude Parade put together by the Body Freedom Network, pose for pictures prior to the start of the walk in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 Participants of the first annual Valentine's Nude Parade put together by the Body Freedom Network, pose for pictures prior to the start of the walk in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 Photo: Brittany Murphy, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Brittany Murphy, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close This month's Nude Women's Day Parade granted permit from city of San Francisco 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Not many events seem more quintessentially San Francisco than one wherein at least a few people are naked. Many believe the stripped-down simplicity of one of the city's long traditions adds to its quirky character, but following the banning of public nudity just a few years ago, it seemed San Francisco's days of bareness would be gone forever.

Not so, apparently! The city has been occasionally granting permits to groups wanting to march in a parade in the buff, as long as the event meets certain criteria.

One group who landed a permit for a walk in mid-March is the Nude Women's Day Parade, an event in honor of International Women's Day to be held March 20, beginning at Jane Warner Plaza (between Market and Castro Streets).

As the event organizers write on their site, the purpose of the parade is to create a safe space for women where they "can feel safe nude in public."

"Body freedom for women involves overcoming the obstacles of social prejudice, fear of judgement, fear of perceived violence and personal self hate," the event's Facebook page reads. "It's about liberating ourselves from the constricting beliefs that were forced on us from infancy and throughout our lives."

The event will begin at 11 a.m. at Jane Warner Plaza by the Castro Theatre, stop for a photo in front of City Hall, and then conclude at 2 p.m. at the starting point.