Far, far out in the California Desert, there’s a place called Wasteland. It’s the apocalyptic world where all are welcome, but not everyone may enter.

“Everybody has to be in some kind of post-apocalyptic outfit.  It means there are all participants, no spectators," said Jared Butler, event director of Wasteland Weekend.

 Imagine a land a number of years after a bomb destroys civilization – and you’re imagining Wasteland.  It's a thought so intriguing, nearly 4,000 people gather far from civilization in the Mojave Desert.

“There’s an amazing amount of cool stuff that people put together - everything from professionals who work in Hollywood to someone who has a garage out somewhere in Wyoming and is working on a little project that weirds out their neighbors.  But there’s not too much that’s too weird for this place," said Butler.

That's exactly what participants, ages 18 to over 70, from as far away as Australia, Germany, Japan, England and France, all want.

If that’s not enough, there’s also a film festival, music, a ball and a beauty salon called the Body Shop - because even in a post-apocalyptic world, you need hair and make-up.

“Absolutely, look around, there’s a lot of high fashion dirt and mud, and it’s not just that. We’ve got body paint, air brush tattoos, a lot of mohawks, a lot of hair braids," said Marky Andrews, Hollywood Make-Up Artist.

The people of the apocalypse here in Wasteland come in many varieties:  some are real apocalypse preppers.  Some are just apocalypse parties.

“I’m prepared for the apocalypse.  In Los Angeles, I’ve got an earthquake kit at home so I’m ready to go," said Andrews.

“If a fake Hollywood apocalypse happens where everybody needs to look amazing, we’ll be great at that.  If an actual bomb drops and we need to survive, half of us will be dead in a day," said Butler.

Those who would likely last include the sportsmen of Wasteland.

"We are men and women who embrace the savagery of the post-apocalyptic lifestyle, but are also trying to rebuild civilization through our sacrifice and sportsmanship in the game known as jugger," said General CityBuster, "Commanding Officer, Army of Los Angeles, Juggers of the Wasteland."  The Wasteland game of jugger, they say, resembles rugby.

This is the eighth year for Wasteland Weekend and the third for a sell-out crowd.  Underneath all the costumes, cars and props, the once-a-year Mad Max party in the desert actually has a simple secret for success.

“If we can all strip things away for a little while, we’d all be happier, at least for a few days," says Butler.