Guide Note

San Francisco LoveFest is an annual dance and electronic festival that is held in the city of San Francisco. It is modeled after the original Love Parade festival that began in Berlin, Germany in 1989. It is known not only for drawing out local electronic music promoters and huge crowds of fans during the daytime parade, but also for the large after-party held later that evening which has hosted such respected DJs as Paul Oakenfold and Ferry Corsten.

Fast Facts

1. Years active: 2004 - Present
2. Attracted some 37,000 people in its first year, and nearly 60,000 people the next
3. Modeled after the German festival Love Parade, which began in 1989
4. Also called Love Parade until 2006, when legal issues required the name to be changed
5. Similar Love Parade spin-offs are held annually in Mexico City, Mexico; Caracas, Venezuela; Santiago, Chile; and Tel Aviv, Israel

San Francisco LoveFest begins in the day with a parade of floats, all of which blast a variety of different electronic music from drum 'n bass to house. The parade travels a previously-determined route through the city, and ends in the City Hall plaza where the floats park and continue to play music for revelers.

Following the parade and plaza festival, the organizers of LoveFest put on an after-party, traditionally held in the Bill Graham Civic Center in San Francisco's City Hall. This event features a series of DJs, who play all night.

"More than 20 vibrant floats will boom their way down Market Street before looping around the plaza in front of City Hall, creating a natural open-air festival." -San Francisco Bay Guardian (September 25, 2007)