Fans of 'Mad Max' built their own post-apocalyptic world in the middle of the desert

Wasteland Weekend started in 2010 and has gotten bigger every year since.

The crowd ranges from car builders to cosplayers like Desirae Hep, who makes for an intimidating "Immortan Joe."

There are activities throughout the day and night, including bounty hunting games, live music, car cruises, archery contests, and card games at the temporary casino.

Post-apocalyptic societies are growing more and more popular in the entertainment world. Here, two "Mad Max" enthusiasts are tied to the front of a car and driven around the camp.

The goal of Wasteland Weekend is to live inside the "Mad Max" movies. All attendees are required to wear post-apocalyptic costumes throughout the event. Pictured here is Jake McKinnon dressed as "Pez, brother of Wez."

The event embraces other movies and video games within the post-apocalyptic genre, but its heart rests in "Mad Max." Here, some fans fight in a Thunderdome that was erected just for the weekend.

On the event's web site, co-founder and event director Jared Butler says that he and his team have been prepping this year's event since "Mad Max: Fury Road" production began back in 2009.

Source: Wasteland Weekend

Butler speaks highly of "Mad Max" co-creator George Miller in the event description. "He set the standard in the genre for 30 years. Now, he just came in with a whole new vision that will set the standard for the next 30 years," Butler says.

Source: Wasteland Weekend

Planning for this year’s event included incorporating elements and structures from the new film into the existing setup.

The event is always a collaborative process. It's not only what's already there when attendees arrive, but also what they bring to the event.

Fans sometimes spend the many months between annual Wasteland Weekends working on their cars, costumes, and campsites — often with the groups they attend the event with.

"The amount of skill and creativity out there when it comes to repurposing discarded objects and rusted metal is just incredible," Adam Chilson, Wasteland Weekend’s art director and build supervisor, says in the event description.

Source: Wasteland Weekend

The 2014 Wasteland Weekend saw over 100 different cars and motorcycles designed in the "Mad Max" style. All were built by fans.

People drive to the event from all over the US.

"There's nothing like the feeling of riding in a car you've worked all year to build and seeing 50 or more 'Mad Max' cars rolling around you, in the wide open desert, with no civilization in sight," Chilson says on the Wasteland Weekend site.

Source: Wasteland Weekend

They keep it safe, cruising at reasonable speeds. Still, when all of the engines are roaring and people are cheering, it's not difficult for everyone to imagine that they're a part of the movie.

Wasteland Weekend event coordinators don't want it to grow too big too fast. Keeping the character of the weekend is important to them.

Veterans who have come to the event since the beginning make up a majority of attendees. They teach new fans how to make it work in the Wasteland.

"We have the nicest, most welcoming, bunch of crazy-looking people you've ever met at an event," says Butler.

Source: Wasteland Weekend