We have a reunited Germany to thank for today’s Love Parade in San Francisco. After the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, the Love Parade was started in Berlin by DJs who believed that music - techno music in particular - could meld the cultural landscape of a formerly divided country. The event was a huge success and it was repeated annually, peaking at 1.5 million participants in 2000. The original German Love Parade has finished its run, but the parade lives on in Santiago, Tel Aviv, Mexico City and San Francisco. This is the second annual Love Parade in San Francisco.This is a "parade" in name only. The idea is to participate, not just watch from the sidelines. It has been called a dance party on wheels. Along with 24 floats decked with dancers and DJs (Crystal Method, Carl Cox, et. al.), tens of thousands of dance devotees sinuously shaking their groove thangs down Market Street to the Civic Center, which was transformed into a multi-stage open-air club where the beats thumped nonstop until the evening, when countless scattered afterparties continued the fun.
Coming from another part of The City, an anti-war rally wrapped up its own parade at the Civic Center. The merger of War! Huh! What Is It Good For! cross-fading into the pulsating techno thump-thump-thump … was unintentionally metaphorical. Peace and Love, together at last!
25 comments:
I was waiting to see this post...so bummed that I was out of town for it! Glad you not only got tons of ambiance photos, but some of my boy in his kilt!
I've never heard of the love Parade, I wish we had one in Kingston. Great pictures. Thanks for coming by my blog, I'll be back here again. :)
Yeah the Love Parade rocked! It rounded off an amazing trip around the fantastic state of California for us. Unfortunately had to fly back to the UK before the after party... gutted :(
WOW! Looks like a great time! (Reminds me of New Orleans!) Next trip? Come to The Big Easy for Mardis Gras. It's going to take a HELL of a lot more than a hurricane to stop us!
thanks for stopping by!
You have the best photos on all of blogger! Honestly.
Little miss, as a fellow Louisianan (though currently transplanted elsewhere), I totally with you! Perhaps Mardi Gras gives us more of a reason to get moving on the rebuilding?
What fabulous fun!!!
BTW..."Just say no...to bugs" ?
I love a man who is good with a pun!
This looked like a lot of fun.
It does not remind me of my mardi gras days though- i didn't do the Quarter on Mardi Gras. I walked with the Mardi Gras Indians, hung out on parade route (Napoleon, Magazine and Carrollton) or went to Zulu parties. Those are the parts of mardi gras I hope never leaves the city.
damn nice photos. good show!
cheers...
Looked like a lot of fun! :-)
Reminded me of the Mardi Gras I used to watch in Sydney. Boy! Do I miss that kind of revelry! Am having a very domesticated lifestyle now ;)
Btw, thanks for visiting.
I loved San Fran! You have such a beautiful city. And the Love Parade was the icing. Your pics completely capture the experience!
Your pics are GREAT. I wish I had more patience when it came to photography. (That will be my line to cover up a lack of talent behind the lens...)
Really enjoyed your blog, though. I'll be back.
I wasn't there last year, but I will be for sure. Minor bummer this year becuz of being too hungover to really get into the groove. but still a damn good time!
As usual, San Fran at its best and silliest. *G* I do love the City. But gimme a break! "Techno Beat"???? EEEYUUUUU...could that be why it started fading off in Germany? *L*
I am astonished that you took part on that! It looks like you had lots of fun!
I never went to a Love Parade althought I live in Germany. Seems I missed much. Great Pictures! :O)
take care!
Awesome job on the photos, FreeThinker!
Man! You really were all over the place that day - you're a black belt in event photography.
-Fitz
Oh, I love all the bright colors at the parade! Looking very much forward to the coming pics. Everybody looks so unique and well, LOVEly .. hehe ... but are you sure the love-parade isn't in Germany anymore, coz I am pretty convinced the parade is still going on strong?
Zhadi - Hopefully you can enjoy the Love Parade vicariously through my photos. (And make plans for next year! I know you have the garb for it!)
Krista - Until Love Parade comes to Kingston, why not visit San Francisco for the 2006 Love Parade?
Finn - Come back and visit this wild and wacky city again!
Little Miss - Yes, the Love Parade has a Mardi Gras vibe … complete with beads, dubloons, and occasional flashing of breasts.
LipstickLulu - I am humbled and honored. And your member profile icon might be the best on all of Blogger!
Jennie - You know it - Mardi Gras 2006 will be one for the ages! See you there!
Robin - I will be pollinating your blog soon!
Sabatkes - Ah, the Big Easy road less traveled. "Laissez les bon temps rouler!"
Jasembera - There's a good show in this town almost everyday. Like last week when we had snow on the hottest day of the year!
Puteri - It was fun, fun, fun, and the fun continued into the evening with Green Day!
Vi - Come check it out next year! Bring the feather boas and the kids!
Sr Phoenix - Thank you! That's why I've made this beautiful city my home!
Nic - Having a scenic city and funky inhabitants helps make for great photos!
Max D - Go easy on the intoxicants next year!
Mallory - Somehow that Euro-disco-techno beat helps make this big event a success. It all segues into each other …
Eyes - "Danke" to you and your homeland for inspiring all this fun! (and we're enjoying Oktoberfest events here now!)
Fitz - Your groovy kilt and divine Whassup! shirt helped play a small role in all the spectacle!
Astrid - All my pics are up now. You are right - the Love Parade continues in Berlin, but I understand it is prohibited from being as big an event as in the past (and the 2005 Berlin Love Parade was cancelled outright!)
Hi
Think it is mt third attempt to leave a comment :(
Thanks for visiting my site. Bunny!! Did u mean funny? :)
Ur site looks wicked.
Eh freethinker,
i get it now... flog & bunny... i know i can be so doh at times...actually its all the time!!!
Hey I think I actually got a photo of you at the love parade:
http://matman.smugmug.com/gallery/837179/2/37508594
In the back, on the left? Small world...
Zoe007 - Consult your inner Spoonerist ... you could make a funny blog and use the domain "http://bunnyflog.blogspot.com" --- I just checked, and it is available! (so is bunnyflog.com!) Then again, you may incur the wrath of a misunderstanding PETA ...
Matty G - Indeed, you captured FreeThinker hot on the tail of two LoveParadeBunnies! Nice work!
Dear Freethinker: Really nice photos. You captured it perfectly.
Hi freethinker,
that would be a great idea but then if I did that I would have to dedicate a life long time of an affliation with Mr Spooner and I dont think I am ready for that kind of a committment yet.. so however tempting you suggestion might be I am afraid I must politely decline(INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE) :)
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