Wasteland Weekend facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wasteland Weekend |
|
|---|---|
Wasteland Weekend Main Gate
|
|
| Begins | September 25, 2024 |
| Ends | September 29, 2024 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | Edwards, California, United States |
| Years active | 14 |
| Inaugurated | October 22, 2010 |
| Founders |
|
| Attendance | 4,300 (2019) |
| Organised by |
|
Wasteland Weekend is an exciting yearly festival. It takes place for four days near the Mojave Desert in Edwards, California. This event is like stepping into a movie. Everyone who attends must dress up and act like they are in a "post-apocalyptic" world.
This theme is inspired by popular movies and games. Think of films like Mad Max or video games like Fallout. The festival features cool costumes, unique campsites, and even special vehicles. You can enjoy live bands, DJs, and other performers. There are also fun games like Jugger matches.
The festival has been held every September since 2010. The only year it did not happen was 2020. That year, it was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jared Butler and Adam Chilson now own and organize the event. They do this through their company, Wasteland World Inc.
History of Wasteland Weekend
Wasteland Weekend started in 2010. It was founded by Karol Bartoszynski, Jared Butler, and James Howard. The very first event got a lot of attention. Even George Miller, the director of the Mad Max movies, sent a video greeting!
The festival has grown a lot since it began. In 2010, about 350 people attended. By 2019, around 4,300 people came to the event. In 2014, over 100 special themed cars and motorcycles were brought to the festival.
The first event was held in October in California City, California. It was inspired by similar Mad Max events in other countries. It featured cool movie replica cars and bikes. There was even a gyrocopter flying overhead. People could visit vendors, watch fire dancers, and join contests. James Howard left the management team in 2010. Karol Bartoszynski left in 2014.
In 2017, the festival became even longer. It expanded from four to five days. It started on the last Wednesday of September. By 2019, the event was sold out. Over 4,300 people participated that year. The 2020 event was cancelled. So, the 11th year was moved to September 22-26, 2021.
What is the Theme?
The main theme of Wasteland Weekend is "post-apocalyptic." This means it's like a world after a big disaster. The theme is mostly inspired by the Mad Max movies. Everyone who attends must wear clothes that fit this theme.
In its early years, the festival was called "Mad Max fun in the California sun." Other influences for the theme come from video games. These include the Wasteland series and the Fallout games.
Other Fun Events
The organizers of Wasteland Weekend also host other special events. These are called "spin-off" events. They include:
- The Wasteland Film Festival, which started in 2013.
- The Wasteland World Car Show, which began in 2016.
- The Wastelanders Ball, which first took place in 2017.
The same team also started a new festival in 2022. This one is called Neotropolis. It has a sci-fi and cyberpunk theme.
