Mud fight in Wacken Headbanging continues even in the rain and despite a travel ban
Tens of thousands of metal fans celebrate at the festival in Wacken, Germany. Others had to leave because of the mud. Well-known bands are expected on the big stages. The weather forecast remains poor.
03.07.2024, 08:22
dpa/bb
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- After a chaotic start, the heavy metal festival in Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, continues with fewer visitors than originally expected.
- A meteorologist from the German Weather Service (DWD) predicts that more rain is on the way today.
- On Wednesday, the festival officially started with a delay as the rainy weather continued. However, many of the 85,000 festival visitors originally expected were denied access. According to estimates, around 50,000 fans were on the site.
After a chaotic start, the heavy metal festival in Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, continues with fewer visitors than originally expected.
Today the bands Hammerfall, Helloween and Kreator, among others, want to let it rip on the two big stages. Skyline, in which festival co-founder Thomas Jensen once played himself, are also expected in Wacken.
The Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) continues until Saturday night. The weather forecast remains modest.
More rain is on the way today, a meteorologist from the German Weather Service (DWD) predicted this morning in Hamburg. However, the amounts of rain are mainly low. Short thunderstorms are also possible.
The dry sections would then increase towards the evening. At the beginning of the weekend, it should stay dry more and more often. But the chance of showers increases again towards the evening.
Organizers announce complete admission ban
The festival officially started late on Wednesday as the rainy weather continued. However, many of the 85,000 festival visitors originally expected were denied entry.
According to police estimates, around 50,000 fans were on the site. Because the rainfall had turned many places into a muddy landscape, the organizers announced a complete ban on admission. Those who were not allowed in were to get their money back.
"You can't imagine how happy we are to see so many of you," said festival co-founder Jensen after the area in front of the main stages opened. "First of all, we absolutely want to thank those we had to turn away." It must be clear to all fans on site: "All those who had to stay at home are making the party possible here."
Due to the ongoing difficult weather and terrain situation, the organizers want to publish the program on a daily basis in order to be able to react to last-minute changes. Meanwhile, the police reported a calm night. "We have a relaxed situation and no major disputes," said a police spokesperson in the early morning.