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The Wet Electric music festival went on as planned yesterday in Huntington Beach, although the event was not allowed to serve alcohol.
KTLA reports that the massive EDM party, which featured water slides, zip lines, luxury cabanas and art installations, was expected to draw about 10,000 people to Huntington State Beach. The event was denied an alcohol permit on Friday, as part of a failed attempt by Huntington Beach officials to shut the festival down.
Authorities were reportedly worried that riots would break out, as they did in Huntington Beach over the summer following the U.S. Open of Surfing. John Carr, a spokesman for the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control, told KPCC on Friday that the organization was worried about festival attendees' well-being.
“The overarching concern is public safety,'' he said. “The plan submitted to ABC did not sufficiently address public safety concerns.''
The lack of alcohol reflects a big change in mindset for partygoers from years past. A Facebook post from 2011 on Wet Electric's page paints the following delightful picture:
Imagine this: You wake up at 8am, step onto a charter bus stocked with tasty adult beverages and the party begins! The bus heads due East and as the temps rise to 85 degrees, so does your anticipation for one the most insane event's you'll ever attend! When you reach your destination all you see is an island oasis transformed into a big kids playground and you can't help but start to bounce to the audible melodies dominating the local sound waves. What line to get in? You're VIP you don't wait. More time to play.. And that you will do until the Sun goes down. The bus that got you there just hours before, becomes the most insane afterparty on wheels ever known to man. By 10:30pm we'll drop you off on your front door. The decision becomes party on? Or Sleep in your own Bed?
But artists and attendees weren't deterred from partying. DJ Dean Mason tweeted:
Wow!!! What an amazing time yesterday at Wet Electric!! Your energy was off the chain and I had a blast playing for you guys!!
— Dean Mason (@deanmasonmusic) September 15, 2013
Tony Arzadon also posted an enthusiastic tweet about the festival:
Rocked it yesterday with Chris Garcia at Wet Electric . 1 of my best DJ sets I've had this summer http://t.co/GPx2lzbLzE
— TonyArzadon.eth (@TonyArzadon) September 15, 2013
Other artists who performed yesterday included Erick Morillo, Paul Oakenfold and Robbie Rivera.
