
Roughly 4,000 people have descended on to California's Mojave Desert for an annual post-apocalyptic festival called Wasteland Weekend.

The festival, which was inspired by the Mad Max film series, celebrated its tenth anniversary this year and revelers flocked to the desert in their masses.

Created in 2010 by Karol Bartoszynski, Jared Butler and James Howard, the festival sees its participants spend the entire weekend in post-apocalyptic costume.

Roughly 4,000 people have descended on to California's Mojave Desert for an annual post-apocalyptic festival called Wasteland Weekend

The festival, which was inspired by the Mad Max film series, celebrated its tenth anniversary this year and revelers flocked to the desert in their masses

Created in 2010 by Karol Bartoszynski, Jared Butler and James Howard, the festival sees its participants spend the entire weekend in post-apocalyptic costume

Women dressed in Max Max-themed costumes cruise on an ATV around the field during this year's post-apocalyptic event

The permanent festival site sits between the defunct Nevada nuclear test site, where from 1951 a total of 928 nuclear warheads were tested during the cold war, and Hollywood.

Costumes are mandatory at the five-day event and it has been reported that any attempt to enter the festival site without one results in other festival-goers chanting: 'Needs more dirt!'

Those looking for the ultimate post-apocalyptic fantasy can expect to be greeted with themed campsites and vehicles, fire performers, live bands and DJs and even an on-site casino.

A woman participates in a swimsuit contest during the 'world's largest post-apocalyptic festival' while excited onlookers watch

The permanent festival site sits between the defunct Nevada nuclear test site, where from 1951 a total of 928 nuclear warheads were tested during the cold war, and Hollywood

Costumes are mandatory at the five-day event and it has been reported that any attempt to enter the festival site without one results in other festival-goers chanting: 'Needs more dirt!'

A woman in a Mad Max Miss Giddy character costume (center) poses for pictures with two other women dressed in post-apocalyptic garb

Last year there was even a 'battle cage' called the Death Guild Thunderdome where attendees faced off with each other using life-like weapons.

They could also swing about while being suspended by elastic straps and hit one another with padded sticks.

There is even a bartering area of the festival where attendees trade items with one another.

Those looking for the ultimate post-apocalyptic fantasy can expect to be greeted with themed campsites and vehicles, fire performers, live bands and DJs and even an on-site casino

Last year there was even a 'battle cage' called the Death Guild Thunderdome where attendees faced off with each other using life-like weapons

They could also swing about while being suspended by elastic straps and hit one another with padded sticks

And some items from the festival's stall can be purchased, or 'bartered for', using themed bottle caps that are given out at the event.

Eric Davidson, an IT professional from Fontana, told the Guardian: 'Going to wasteland is leaving your real life behind, no worries about traffic rush hour, paying your bills … People get to escape reality for a time, and that's when the best in true human nature emerges.'

The event, a strictly 18 and over affair, holds a competition for the best decorated vehicles and costumes, and sees some attendees going to extreme lengths to win prizes.

There is even a bartering area of the festival where attendees trade items with one another. Pictured is a couple posing with their ATV vehicle in front of a themed campsite

And some items from the festival's stall can be purchased, or 'bartered for', using themed bottle caps that are given out at the event

Eric Davidson, an IT professional from Fontana, told the Guardian : 'Going to wasteland is leaving your real life behind, no worries about traffic rush hour, paying your bills … People get to escape reality for a time, and that's when the best in true human nature emerges'

The event, a strictly 18 and over affair, holds a competition for the best decorated vehicles and costumes, and sees some attendees going to extreme lengths to win prizes

Founder Jared Butler told the Mojave Desert News: 'We have a broad demographic in terms of ages, backgrounds and interests.

'People are drawn to the event for many different reasons and we didn’t want to set the barrier to entry so high that they couldn’t attend. If they only want a little bit of immersive, they can stay in the camp area. For the fully immersive experience there is still the city behind the gates.'

He added: 'It’s not about making everything look great, it’s about the experience we can give to the attendee. When you’re out there and everything looks different, you do get this sense of escape, that’s one of the things people gravitate to about the event.'

As well as offering daily archery, attendees can also join post-apocalyptic doll-making workshops, robot battles and a tattoo judging as well as much more.

Founder Jared Butler told the Mojave Desert News : 'We have a broad demographic in terms of ages, backgrounds and interests'

He added: 'People are drawn to the event for many different reasons and we didn’t want to set the barrier to entry so high that they couldn’t attend. If they only want a little bit of immersive, they can stay in the camp area. For the fully immersive experience there is still the city behind the gates'

As well as offering daily archery, attendees can also join post-apocalyptic doll-making workshops, robot battles and a tattoo judging as well as much more

A man wearing a black loincloth and brown leather jacket walks past a campground during the festival while holding a toy horse head on a stick

A couple decked out in post-apocalyptic garb wander around the festival-site while a man is seen riding an electric board in the background

A man checks his fake gun while sitting atop his decorated vehicle. The festival allows replica weapons to be brought in as long as they don't fire any ammo

Attendees wearing goggles stand on top of their car while watching a dancing contest at the festival

Festival-goers pose for a picture on the second-last day of the festival to take home memories of its tenth anniversary

A man in a Mad Max War Boy costume rides his vehicle around the site. Other festival attractions include free hair and makeup at the event-sponsored beauty salon

Campers rest at their tribe's campground on the second-last day of the fully-immersive festival. Not all campsites are themed but it is encouraged for attendees to decorate their tents

Attendees march on their atv vehicles during a car cruise at the festival

Two cars were decorated with a female mannequin wearing sunglasses, a fake hand, a skull and crossbones, spikes and a weapon

Attendees wait for a costume contest at the festival. Temperatures can reach up to 100F (38C) in the day time and as low as 14C (57F) in the night

Hundreds of revelers drive their vehicles around the barren festival site. While most vehicles are fully decorated, it is not compulsory for attendees to modify cars

A woman dances in a cage as men walk past on the second-last day of the festival

Attendees raise their fake weapons in the air as they march together through the festival site. Some are seen standing on their cars

A fake police car stops attendees during the festival to add to the fully-immersive experience

One attendee plays a drum while standing on his ATV vehicle with a fellow festival-goer

A man gives a piggy back ride to a woman while the pair watch one of the competitions held by the event's organizers