Comeback for Berlin's Love Parade The Love Parade has replicated around the world Berlin's Love Parade is making a comeback after a two-year hiatus because of financial problems. The techno music festival will be held on 15 July - less than a week after the German capital hosts the football World Cup final. A new sponsor has been found to cover the "seven-figure" cost of staging the massive event. The festival, which started as a small party in 1989, now attracts up to one million people. At its height up to 1.5m people descended on the city for the procession and raves held in city parks, but numbers dwindled and corporate sponsors shied away from committing money. "We believe the Love Parade is alive," said founder Matthias Roeingh, who goes by the DJ name Dr Motte. "It's a fitting conclusion to the World Cup." He added that festival management would set up stands to educate party-goers about the dangers of drugs. "I think the Love Parade should be saying we think drugs are uncool," said Mr Roeingh. 'Unacceptable situation' The parade ran into trouble following a ruling that it was no longer deemed a political demonstration, meaning organisers were responsible for cleaning up after the event. Now fitness company McFit has stepped in to back the festival as the main sponsor. "The Love Parade is a German export hit. This brand has achieved cult status and is known worldwide," said the company's owner Rainer Schaller. "That this mega event should not take place in its homeland just because of financial problems was unacceptable for me." Berlin city officials had previously blamed Love Parade organisers for its failure to be held for the past two years, claiming they had failed to move with the times. Here's a video of the history of it.... http://www.whatsonwhen.com/video/play.asp?event_id=49&video_id=110&videotypeID=MP&speed=100
