SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 23 (UPI) -- The huge, often controversial techno dance parties of the 1980s and 1990s known as raves have gone mainstream.
Not only are they no longer seen as threatening hotbeds of teenage drug use, but one of the nation's largest dance parties -- the Loveparade, which will be held in the Bay Area on Saturday -- is celebrated with a parade, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
"The rave crowd grew up," Ross Ivika, dance concert promoter and co-host of "House Nation" on KYLD-FM, told the newspaper.
More than 35,000 people attended the Loveparade festival last year. Corporate sponsors include Heineken, Friendster and iTunes.
"Techno has become more about the music, as opposed to something to listen to while on E (ecstasy)," said Ivika.
The culture "has come more above ground," said Robert Davis, executive director of the city and county of San Francisco's entertainment commission, which was created in response to events like raves.
