Zurich Street Parade: Europe's largest techno party

We’re often told that in Switzerland there are only two times a year when most Swiss loosen up, release their inhibitions and spend some time purely having fun: Fasnacht (Carnivale) and OpenAir festivals (outdoor concerts held in almost every Swiss city throughout the summer that attract all the big names in music with a lucrative Swiss paycheck). They failed to mention one event, however, or maybe they intentionally failed to mention the Zurich Street Parade because many of the 1 million attendees are not Swiss and 90 percent of Zurich residents we’ve met had rather leave the city than witness the “craziness and debauchery” that brings back memories of the 1980s version of their city and tales of crime in a long begotten age.

History of the Zurich Street Parade

Zurich Street Parade, Europe's largest techno party — Each year, 1 million people fill the streets of Zurich’s old city while 30 floats slowly wind their way down the route.

Comic-Con remains on Monica’s list of must-see events but for now, she’ll have to compromise with the many events that we stumble upon throughout Europe containing a side of cosplay. This means sacrifices, such as, in the case of the Zurich Street Parade, listening to techno music stream from each passing float as it stopped for at least half an hour with an endless stream of music that we prefer to throw into a mix and not hear for an entire day.

The Zurich Street Parade began in 1992 as a spinoff of Berlin’s Love Parade and a celebration of techno music, peace and a drug-free society. It first hit 1 million attendees in 2001 and even this year, with a 70% chance of rain and scheduled one week earlier on the calendar than usual, drew 950,000. In 2010, a crowd rush at Berlin’s Love Parade caused 21 deaths and 500 injuries, tragically ending the festival there and making Zurich’s Street Parade the largest techno celebration in Europe.