A rave is a dance party that features fast-paced, repetitive electronic music and accompanying light shows. Raves are often held at warehouses, clubs, or other public or private venues. They are typically associated with rave culture, a youth-oriented subculture that blends music, art, and social ideals such as peace, love, unity, respect, tolerance, and happiness. Rave culture also entails the use of a range of licit and illicit drugs, which are intended to enhance ravers sensations and boost their energy so they can dance for long periods.

Raves have evolved over time, and today they can range from small parties held at nightclubs or private homes to large festivals and events featuring multiple DJs and dance areas. Some electronic dance music festivals have features of raves, but on a larger, often commercial scale. Raves may last for a long time, with some events continuing for twenty-four hours and lasting all through the night.

What sets a rave apart from a regular music festival or concert is that it often doesnt matter who is playing, and people go to raves solely for the vibes. Raves tend to have a lot of vibe to them, underground and sensual, and they also tend to happen in remote locations like empty warehouses so as not to attract unwanted attention. Raves have historically referred to grassroots organized, anti-establishment, and unlicensed all-night dance parties. However, todays raves are characterized by high entrance fees, extensive drug use, exorbitantly priced bottled water, very dark and often dangerously overcrowded dance floors, and "chill rooms," where teenage ravers go to cool down and often engage in open sexual activity.