'Mad Max' fans descend on California desert for Wasteland Festival Think of it as Burning Man for die-hard fans of the cult film 'Mad Max'

Festival goers attend the first day of Wasteland Weekend in the high desert community of California City in the Mojave Desert, California, where people are gathering for the world's largest post-apocalyptic festival. less Festival goers attend the first day of Wasteland Weekend in the high desert community of California City in the Mojave Desert, California, where people are gathering for the world's largest post-apocalyptic ... more Photo: FREDERIC J BROWN/AFP/Getty Images Photo: FREDERIC J BROWN/AFP/Getty Images Image 1 of / 73 Caption Close 'Mad Max' fans descend on California desert for Wasteland Festival 1 / 73 Back to Gallery

The harsh, desolate landscape of California's Mojave Desert provides the perfect hellscape for Wasteland Weekend.

The event, taking place Sept. 22 to 25 this year, is geared to die-hard Mad Max fans who come from all over the continent to re-create the post-apocalyptic world portrayed in the four cult films created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. Forming tribes, they act as if they're survivors of a civilization collapse, following the plot line of the movie series.

The festival-goers create a baroque carnivalesque spectacle as they parade across the parched landscape in wild, imaginative costumes (think chest armor, gas masks, lots of studded leather, combat boots) and drive massive rusting junkyard cars. Entertainment includes fire-spinning, burlesque dancing around the bonfire and a football-like game called "jugger ball" played with a dog skull. Think of it as Burning Man for the Mad Max set.

Started in 2010, the event takes place two hours outside of Los Angeles and attracts around 2,000 people.

Above is a gallery of images taken on the first day of this year's event as well as photographs from last year's festival.