Around 85,000 visitors attended the 35th Wacken Open Air, running from 29 July to 1 August. The completely sold-out event's biggest safety challenge this year is daytime temperatures exceeding 30°C.
Organisers have set up free drinking-water stations and additional shaded rest areas. Police at the venue are also handing out water, while visitors are being reminded to drink fluids regularly, use sun protection and rest.
Medical care is provided by 560 German Red Cross staff, who operate an on-site system equivalent to a small hospital's capacity. According to the specialists' experience, the most common risk is visitors not drinking enough water in the heat.
Wacken today is no longer simply a concert series, but a standalone temporary town. This year's programme hosts more than 150 bands. Extreme weather is becoming one of the most important business and insurance questions in festival organising.
Summary
This year the sold-out Wacken Open Air is battling not mud but temperatures above 30°C. Organisers have prepared with new shaded areas, free water points and hundreds of medical staff.
