VIDEO: 70 Drop Their Pants At Annual 'Moon Amtrak' Event

Once again, the pants came down in Laguna Niguel, but so did the participation in the quirky 33rd annual 'Moon Amtrak' event.

While the crowds have diminished over the years, there are still quite a few who have no problem baring the bums at the annual 'Moon Amtrak.'

More than 70 showed up on Saturday along the chain link fence across the road from to show off their rear-ends to the train passengers.

The tradition, in place since 1979, involves participants lowering their pants to “moon” the and trains as they pass by.

Many came with their friends and family, some spanning multiple generations. Folks from all walks of life came to drop their drawers, including Carol Wickenheisser and Susan Branch. Frequent participants in the past, the pair said they wanted to make a repeat appearance after missing last year’s. This year was Wickenheisser’s fifth attendance, while her daughter, Susan, actually came from New Mexico via train to attend the event. Another participant was Danielle Heiser, a Boston native who stopped by during her visit with family.

Several changes were implemented this year, including a no-parking zone alongside Camino Capistrano. Cones were set up prohibiting participants from parking in the street, while police patrolled the vicinity. Additionally, the business park's new ownership also installed new concrete and planted trees in the Crown Valley Business Park, prompting Mugs Away Saloon Owner Karen Kalber to believe that the “Moon Amtrak” event will be even better in the near future.

Kalber also confirmed that the tradition started so many years ago with a dare. One customer promised to buy his buddies a drink if they mooned the next train. Fast forward 30 years, and the tradition has become a hit.

Several “veterans” claimed that there were some years when attendance would number more than 10,000. However, they also admitted that the participation has dwindled over the last few years. There were previous issues with overnight parking and drinking, prompting a more police enforcement.

The Amtrak and Metrolink trains passed north-bound and south-bound throughout the day. In years past, passengers on the train have been known to moon back at the trackside mooners. Many news reporters and photographers were also present, documenting the public event.