Overnight Evacuation Due to Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm shook up the start of the world-famous Wacken Open Air festival in northern Germany. Late Tuesday night, just hours after the festival grounds had officially opened, attendees were asked to temporarily evacuate due to severe weather conditions. Around 12:30 a.m., announcements over loudspeakers instructed visitors to take shelter in their vehicles as a precaution against the approaching storm.
Cleared for Return by Morning
Fortunately, by early Wednesday morning, the threat had passed. Aside from some thunder and a brief period of heavy rain, the worst of the storm missed the festival grounds. However, unsettled weather is expected to continue throughout the event. The forecast predicts a mix of sunshine, clouds, and intermittent downpours—keeping fans watching the skies with concern as the official start of the festival kicks off.
Meteorologist Warns: Expect Rain and Mud
According to meteorologist Jürgen Schmidt from WetterKontor, festivalgoers should prepare for classic Wacken weather. “The Wacken formula for the next few days is: cool plus wet equals mud,” he told BILD. “The outlook is not great, especially for today’s opening. We could see 20 liters of rain per square meter or more.”
Despite the gloomy forecast, organizers are confident that this year’s turnout will hit the expected 85,000 visitors between July 30 and August 2. Festival founder Thomas Jensen expressed hope that last year’s disappointment won’t repeat itself. In 2023, poor weather forced a last-minute entry freeze, limiting attendance to just 61,000 instead of the anticipated full capacity.
Holy Ground Stormed, Wacken 2025 Is Officially Underway
The festival officially kicked off on Wednesday afternoon when thousands of fans rushed the so-called “Holy Ground”—the area in front of the two main stages. The opening ceremony took place under surprisingly dry conditions, giving fans a brief break from the otherwise soggy start. At 3:30 p.m., drenched in rain gear and rubber boots, metalheads claimed their spots for the upcoming shows.
Earlier in the day, the Wacken Firefighters, a beloved festival tradition, performed their customary opening concert on one of the smaller stages. Their performance echoed through the mud as fans danced in the muck, marking the unofficial start to what’s expected to be another iconic edition of the metal festival.
Opening Acts: Apocalyptica, Beyond The Black, and Deine Cousine
Though not all stages are active yet, Wednesday’s lineup already features several highlights. Finnish cello-metal band Apocalyptica, German symphonic metal group Beyond The Black, and punk-rock artist Deine Cousine are among the standout performers scheduled for the day.
Live updates, set times, and weather reports for Wacken 2025’s first official day can be found in the festival’s live blog as the event unfolds. For now, metal fans are braving the elements, embracing the mud, and celebrating the return of one of the world’s most legendary music festivals.