page_title: Wacken Open Air
section_title: Event area
hierarchical_section_title: Wacken Open Air / Organisation / Event area
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Wastelander beim Wacken Open Air 2014
context_page_description: Wacken Open Air is a heavy metal music festival, held annually since 1990 on the first weekend of August in the town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Almost all styles of hard rock and metal are represented. It is now one of the largest heavy metal festivals in the world and one of the largest open-air festivals in Germany. Between 2011–2018, the number of attendees was around 85,000, 75,000 of whom were paying visitors. In 2020, the festival was scheduled to take place from 30 July to 1 August, but was canceled due to a ban on large public events in Germany due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
context_section_description: Wacken Open Air's event area is divided into several structurally separated sections. Since 2014, only one major security check is performed upon entering the grounds, after that, only the festival wristbands are checked.
  Special features of the W:O:A include the Wackinger area, which resembles a medieval market and contains specialty food and beverage stalls as well as the Wackinger Stage, where matching music is played. Various walking acts also entertain the audience. This area borders on the Wasteland designed by the Wasteland Warriors, where a post-apocalyptic world and stage (Wastelandstage) styled in homage to the Mad Max-franchise is set up.
  The area in front of the main stages comprises both the Bavarian beer garden and a large shopping mile called Metal Markt. There are also various food stalls, the Wacken Foundation Camp, ATMs, and the Movie Field, where Heavy Metal documentaries and feature films are screened.
  The most important stages, the focal point of the festival, are located in the so-called Infield, which can be reached only via the Center. In addition to these stages, it also hosts food and beverage stalls.
caption: Wasteland – apocalypse at Wacken Open Air 2014
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