This year's LovEvolution party (formerly Lovefest, and before that Love Parade) was the biggest ever, with some unofficial estimates saying up to 100,000 people showed up for the festivities. Judging from the crowd I say that estimate might actually be correct - the entire Civic Center plaza and much of the surrounding grounds was straight packed, like shoulder to shoulder packed. Amazing!
Originally a reincarnation of the legendary Berlin Love Parade, it has since went through a few name changes but essentially keeps the same general vibe. Start with a parade of mobile DJ booth floats down Market Street in San Francisco, and end up at the Civic Center Plaza for a massive outdoor day-rave.
And I do say rave in the true sense of the word - I see hints here and there that a retro-rave revival is beginning...phat pants, candy bracelets, and all that other business :-) But those styles weren't it so much as it was the overall atmosphere...just a sort of wild time with young people letting lose.
I'm happy to see it start to come back, but it's also a little disconcerting...things I've actually experienced are inching into the retro-sphere! I guess it's a right of passage we all enjoy. At least I may get my wish for a second chance to experience a culture that was all but obliterated in 2001.
