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Swiss Street Parade techno fest draws nearly one million

Around 950,000 techno fans turned out for the annual Street Parade in the Swiss city of Zurich, organisers said Saturday.

Thirty "lovemobiles" carrying sound systems and costumed dancers wound their way along the 2.4-kilometre (1.5-mile) route along the shore of Lake Zurich in the heart of the Swiss metropolis.

Hundreds of thousands of revellers flocked from across Europe to dance to high-decibel beats or simply watch the parade go by in the sunshine.

In addition to the lovemobiles, the Street Parade organisers set up six dance podiums along the route where more than 20 Swiss and international DJs performed for the crowd.

After the nine-hour parade wrapped up at around 10:00 pm (2000 GMT), revellers headed to scores of clubs across the city.

Switzerland’s national railway company organised 100 special trains to ferry partygoers to and from Zurich throughout the day and night.

The Street Parade normally takes place on the second weekend of August, but was moved forward this year because of a clash with the upcoming European athletics championships in Zurich.

The first edition, in 1992, drew around 1,000 ravers and just two lovemobiles.