'Mad Max' Fans Descend Into the Desert for Gigantic Post-Apocalyptic Party

Thousands of dystopian enthusiasts stormed the California desert over the weekend to pay homage to the "Mad Max" movie franchise.

Wasteland Weekend has been held annually since 2010 in the Mojave Desert, and features around 4,000 people coming to fully immerse themselves in the "Mad Max" lifestyle for 5 days.

The festival organizers actually require everyone attending to be in full costume, so that the experience is as authentic as possible.

Activities throughout the event included anything to distract attendees from the responsibilities of the real world; including costume contests, car cruising, archery and even a post-apocalyptic swimsuit competition.

Dystopian-themed campsites at the event were used for accommodations during the festival.

Guests also engaged in role playing challenges, like Thunderdome battles and bounty hunting games.

For those looking to relax in the desert, the festival offered calmer activities like crafting workshops, a beauty salon, fire performers, a 24 hour radio station, post-apocalyptic gladiator fights and a casino.

"Mad Max" is a 1979 Australian dystopian action thriller film directed by George Miller and starring Mel Gibson as "Mad" Max Rockatansky.

The film, shot on a $400,000 budget, grossed over $100 million and earned a huge cult following.

It was so succesful that three more films were released in the franchise, including "Mad Max 2" in 1981, "Beyond Thunderdome" in 1985, and "Fury Road" in 2015.