LovEvolution: San Francisco's Lovefest

As San Francisco's largest, loudest, and most highly anticipated festival, the ever so popular, Lovefest is getting a little bit of a facelift this year. Traditionally known as Lovefest or Loveparade, the festival's name recently changed to LovEvolution, and for no other reason than the fact that Los Angeles also has an event called "Love Festival." However, this massive music event's name isn't the only thing that's evolving this go around. For the first time since the event's arrival in San Francisco in 2004, LovEvolution will be charging $10 at the entrance to the Civic Center Plaza, which is where the parade ends and the festival, music, dancing, drinking, and well, love-ing begins.Though the new cover comes as a letdown to many traditional Lovefest attendees, Bay Area events enthusiasts, and other like-minded party-goers, it also marks the festival's flourishing growth, success, and popularity. In addition, as the largest electronic music event in the country, LovEvolution requires more expenses this year than in any years prior, including increased city fees, security, medical personnel, and police. But don't let all the nitty-gritty get you down. For 250 world class DJs, 25 parade floats/ dancing DJ stages, and the coming together of thousands of people to celebrate peace and cultural tolerance, the $10 seems pretty feasible. To make the most of your money though, there are a few things you can do. Get to the event early...and be ready to go all night. The parade is free and begins promptly at noon at the corner of 2nd and Market. Here, 25 floats and a mass amount of wildly dressed and half-naked people (rain or shine) will proceed westbound on Market until they've reached the Civic Center Plaza. The formal end time of the event is 8:00pm, but don't expect to be stopping there. Post LovEvolution is when the real madness begins, with hundreds of various after parties planned throughout the city, including the official after-party which is held at Bill Graham Auditorium each year. For those of you taking public transportation-- which is wise for any Saturday in downtown San Francisco and downright necessary for Lovefest Saturday-- exit the BART Montgomery Street station for the parade and the Civic Center station for the festival. In general though, a LovEvolution attendee should roll with the punches, expect the most outlandish (particularly people's very unconventional attire), and soak up the scenery of people celebrating, dancing, and spreading that good 'ol San Francisco lovin'.