The main gates are constantly flanked by War Boys and postapocalyptic warriors. Vehicles in the car cruise drive in and make a slow loop through the camp as bystanders scurry out of the way.

A Wastelander dressed as Immortan Joe from Mad Max: Fury Road. A costume contest awards best movie replica and best original costume in both male and female categories.

Over 300 DIY cars participated in Wasteland’s car cruise. People work for two to three years building the perfect ragged rig.

A “jugger match” is a heady blend of rugby, fencing, and old-fashioned street brawling. Two teams fight over a dog skull. Small, fast runners known as qwiks race the skull to the other team’s goal. Large fighters known as enforcers try to intercept the qwiks with homemade weapons.

A Wastelander dressed as Mad Max is chained to the front of Nux's car before the cruise.

Fighters tangle in the Thunderdome, built by a tribe known as Death Guild. The Thunderdome originated at Burning Man nearly 20 years ago and was adopted by Wasteland. Fighters are strapped into acrobat harnesses tethered to bungee cords, then attack their opponent with weapons made of PVC pipe wrapped in foam. The most furious fighter is crowned the winner. There are no prizes—only glory.

A Wastelander dressed as a Mad Max gate guard, complete with a staff topped with a vintage microphone.

A car competes in the remote-control car death race. Contestants spend all year modifying their rigs. Cars leap off makeshift ramps and around hairpin turns in an enormous cloud of dust, all while trying to crash into other cars. Many don’t make it to the finish line (or in one piece).

A pickup truck with a spiky bumper and skulls lines up for the cruise. Vehicles with particularly hazardous decor are dubbed buzzard vehicles and are required to park a safe distance away from camp to avoid accidents.

A Wastelander dressed as a postapocalyptic car whaler, complete with a giant harpoon to spear vehicles.

Every inch of a Wasteland car is customized, including animal pelts, bones, and lots of ammunition.

Not all Wasteland vehicles are cars or motorcycles. Dune buggies are common, as are more-wacky rigs like this motorized Red Flyer wagon and sidecar.

Some of Immortan Joe’s War Boys pose before the cruise. Many car bodies are attached to 4 x 4 truck frames to elevate the vehicle.

Customized military uniforms are popular. This one features a hat with a troll doll head.

Motorcycles line up for the cruise. Many riders wear skull helmets shaped like humans, cows, or birds.

This rig is the fuselage of a Rockwell Commander airplane mounted to a car frame. The bumper is flanked with two 20-mm Gatling guns and a “cow catcher,” inspired by early cars in the 1880s. The car won best in show.

Robots known as smashbotz meet for combat in the Battle Cage.

Most cars are stripped to the roll cage, then rusted or painted menacing colors. This vehicle has an extra level for multiple passengers.

A driver with a leather face mask sits in a Lone Wolf car from Mad Max 2. The vehicle won best replica.

Vehicles line up before the cruise. Builders make every imaginable modification to their cars, motorcycles, and dune buggies. Front bumpers are frequently decorated with chains, spikes, skulls, animal hide, and harpoons.

A Wastelander dressed as a crow poses in front of one of the tribe's camps.

Skulls are the ultimately accessory at Wasteland.

A delivery van advertises toys and gifts in the car cruise.

A Wastelander in a costume resembling one of Lord Humungus' marauders balances on the back of a dune buggy before the cruise.

As the desert temperature drops sharply, Wastelanders huddle around fires made in rusted containers, or else dance or battle in the Thunderdome to stay warm.