Wacken Open Air

Wacken Open Air

Wacken Open Air is a big music festival held every year in the village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It started in 1990 and happens for four days in early August. About 85,000 fans, called metalheads, come from over 80 countries to enjoy the festival.

The festival has about 200 bands playing on two big stages and several smaller ones. You can hear many kinds of heavy metal music, like power metal, speed metal, thrash metal, and folk metal. There are also fun areas like a medieval-themed village and a post-apocalyptic zone with shops and beer tents.

Wacken Open Air is famous for its friendly community and traditions. Over the years, the festival has grown and sometimes includes more popular bands. This brings in new fans but also changes the feeling for some long-time attendees. Many documentaries have been made about the festival, and it even holds a contest called the Wacken Metal Battle for new bands.

The festival started in 1989 when two friends, Thomas Jensen and Holger Hübner, thought of the idea while visiting a restaurant. They wanted to hold an outdoor concert in a gravel pit in their village, Wacken. The first festival was in 1990, and almost 800 people came to watch local bands play. Over the years, the festival grew very fast. Today, Wacken Open Air is one of the largest metal music festivals in the world. It now has about 200 bands and welcomes around 85,000 fans from over 80 countries.

Wacken Open Air has many fun areas and activities for fans. There is a medieval market area with special food and music, and a post-apocalyptic area inspired by movies. The main stages are in the Infield, which also has food and drink stalls. Because most visitors stay for the whole festival, there are large camping areas with showers, toilets, drinking fountains, and shops. The campsite is patrolled by police and security staff.

The festival also has a big medical team to help people who need care. There are ambulances, radios, and other equipment to keep everyone safe. The festival is generally safe, with few serious problems. It is a favorite event for metal music fans everywhere.