Zürich's Street Parade
ABOVE: Up to half a million fans dance to
Techno and House music in Zürich, Switzerland each August. The picture shows
the Quaibrücke bridge between Bürkliplatz and Bellevue. For a larger picture
(115Kb download), click
here.
Techno and house music have millions of
fans in Switzerland and Germany, where you're far more likely to hear the
driving electronic beat of synthesized music than alphorns or oompah
bands--unless you're at Oktoberfest or a nightclub that offers tourist
shows.
Each year during August, hundreds of thousands of techno and house
aficionados join a pilgrimage to Zürich for the Street Parade: an event that
turns Switzerland's largest city into "the capital of the techno world." The
parade, which features dozens of floats called "Love Mobiles," is meant to be "a
demonstration in support of love, peace, and tolerance" to the beat of house and
techno. It even has a broadcasting station, Radio Street Parade, which operates
around the clock Mhz during
the week leading up to the festivities. And when the parade is over, dozens of
house and techno parties take place in and around Zürich, ranging from large
festival-style events to underground raves for the cognoscenti.
Parade organizers recommend wearing earplugs
(available at the parade) and emphasize the parade's policy of "no drugs,
no dealing, good feeling!" If you get thirsty or hungry, head for an
official refreshment stand. Proceeds from refreshment sales help cover the cost
of the parade.
Related Web links
Next Page > Official
Web site > Page 1, 2
Photo © Switzerland Tourism. All rights reserved.
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