Tuesday 4 October 2022 07:30 AM Hundreds of scantily-clad revelers channel Mad Max and party the night away on ... trends now
Thousands of festivalgoers descended on the Mojave Desert Sunday for the final day of a post-apocalyptic gathering that featured decked-out cars, guns and outfits inspired by dystopian movie series Mad Max.
The festival holds a variety of wacky events including 'fight to the death under Thunderdome,' burlesque shows and drinking games, but anyone who attends must wear a costume, including staff, journalists and volunteers.
Pictures show creative costumes full of references to dystopian movies and themes, with many choosing to bare all as they partied under the sun.
There were also swimsuit contests and 'jugger matches,' as fellow apocalyptic movie The Salute of the Jugger was honored alongside the George Miller classic.
According to the website, the festival provides 'makeovers at the event-sponsored post-apocalyptic beauty salon.'
People attend the Wasteland Weekend Festival at the Mojave desert in Edwards, California
The festival holds a variety of wacky events including 'fight to the death under Thunderdome,' a tribute to the famous Mad Max scene
All attendees of the festival are required to show up in full costume, and that includes staff, volunteers and journalists
The Edwards, Calif., carnival was created in 2010 and received media attention for its homage to the Mad Max franchise
Revelers are encouraged to join different 'tribes' at the event that compete against each other and have exclusive hangout spots
The festival grew from hundreds of attendees to thousands and has been met with growing enthusiasm
Other activities include car cruises, costume contests, a film festival, a post-apocalyptic swimsuit competition and a role playing bounty-hunter game.
The Edwards, Calif., carnival was created in 2010 and received media attention for its homage to the Mad Max franchise, and even received a video greeting from director George Miller, along with a sneak peek of pre-production.
Mad Max - the movie that made Mel Gibson famous - was released in 1979. Max Max 2 followed in 1981, with Mad Max Thunderdome concluding the series in 1985. The character was then rebooted in 2015, with Tom Hardy starring as Max opposite Charlize Theron, who played Furiosa.
The first set of movies were set in a post-apocalyptic Australia where bands of murderous criminals roam the countryside looking to steal fuel from unsuspecting victims.
The organizers require all festival goers to be in costume, with the idea of creating a full-inmersion effect
The festival, like Burning Man and other desert gatherings, is often known as much for what people aren't wearing than what they are
People take part in a 'Post-Apocalyptic swimsuit contest' at the Wasteland Weekend Festival
