Fans of Wacken are making their way back home after the festival - Throngs of Wacken festival attendees heading home
Wacken Open Air 2022 Concludes Amidst Challenges and Records
The 34th edition of the Wacken Open Air (W:O:A), the world's largest heavy metal festival, concluded in the early hours of Sunday morning after a four-day run. Approximately 85,000 fans attended the music extravaganza in Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, with Guns N' Roses serving as the headliners, led by Axl Rose.
The festival was marked by several notable events. Guns N' Roses performed for over three hours on Thursday, setting a new record for the longest concert in the festival's history. Despite the rain that amounted to up to 39.3 liters per square meter, fans continued to party under the motto "Rain or shine."
However, the festival wasn't without its incidents. A car fire occurred on the B430 federal road, believed to be a fan's vehicle. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the traffic around the area has eased due to many fans leaving. Fans who need help leaving can request assistance from tractors.
The camping grounds, usually bustling with activity, were reportedly quite empty, possibly due to the rain making the grounds challenging for fans to leave. Many fans left on Saturday or during the night, while a significant number have already returned home or are back at their places.
Metal queen Doro Pesch made a guest appearance with Dirkschneider at the festival. Other bands that graced the stages included Papa Roach, Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Apocalyptica, BAP, and guitarist Michael Schenker.
Holger Hübner, the founder and organizer of the festival, expressed gratitude and awe for the event. Despite the challenges, the festival once again proved to be a testament to the spirit of heavy metal music and its devoted fans.
As for the impact of rain on the return journey, specific details are not documented in the provided sources. The festival is known for muddy conditions that challenge logistics, and local measures are in place to handle this, but the effects on attendees' departure in 2022 are not directly described in the available information.
[1] References: 1. Wacken.com - Festival Information 2. Wacken News - Festival Updates and Reports 3. German Weather Service - Weather Reports for Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein
- Amidst the challenging weather conditions, festival organizers could consider offering community aid, such as vocational training in landscape management or traffic safety, to help attendees better navigate similar conditions in the future, ensuring a safer and smoother festival experience for all.
- To further enrich the festival experience for attendees, organizers could consider incorporating entertainment options like lifestyle workshops or music-focused seminars on music production or music history, in addition to the top-notch performances, during the downtime between bands.
