The iconic, several-meter-tall metal sign "Wacken" at the entrance to the town in northern Germany is receiving a new version after over ten years of exposure to the elements. The old letters, which have stood in the meadow since 2012, have been replaced with new ones made by the same company from Itzehoe. The measure aims to preserve this distinctive landmark for the region and fans of the heavy metal festival for many years to come. Organizers point out that both the weather and "many years of metal" have left their mark on the structure.
Replacement of an Iconic Symbol
The metal sign "Wacken" that has stood by the access road to the town since 2012 has been dismantled and replaced with a new, refreshed version. The goal is the long-term conservation of this element important for the image of the region and the festival.
Reason for Renovation
Organizers cited the destructive impact of weather conditions and the passage of time as the reason for the replacement, expressed with the humorous statement about "many years of metal" that left their mark on the structure. The renovation includes replacing individual letters and a general overhaul of the entire sign.
Local Contractor
The new sign, like its predecessor, was produced by a machinery and metalworking company from nearby Itzehoe, highlighting the local connections and support for the regional economy by the festival organizers.
Two Strategic Locations
There are two such signs in the region: one, the most famous, is located at the entrance to Wacken from the direction of Gribbohm, and the second is placed directly on the festival grounds. Both serve as important landmarks and backdrops for souvenir photos.
The northern German municipality of Wacken, known worldwide for the legendary heavy metal festival held there, has renewed one of its most recognizable symbols. The large-scale metal sign with the town's name, which has stood in a meadow by the main access road since 2012, has undergone a thorough renovation. The letters, which were exposed to the whims of the weather for over a decade, have been replaced with new ones, and the entire structure has undergone conservation treatments. As explained by a spokesperson for the organizers in a statement for Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the decision was driven by the desire to preserve this characteristic landmark long-term. "Wind, weather, and many 'years of metal' have left their marks," he stated, using a playful pun that refers both to the passage of time and the musical genre associated with the festival. The new sign, like its predecessor, was made by a local machinery and metalworking company from nearby Itzehoe, highlighting the festival's ties to the region. The Wacken Open Air festival, held continuously since 1990, has transformed from a small, local event into one of the largest and most prestigious heavy metal music events in the world, attracting tens of thousands of fans from across the globe and constituting a significant element of the identity and economy of this small town in Schleswig-Holstein. It is worth adding that there are two such signs in the area. The first and most iconic stands at the entrance to Wacken from the direction of Gribbohm, right by the road, serving as a mandatory photo spot for arriving fans. The second is placed directly on the festival grounds. Both serve a similar function – they are tangible symbols of the place and event that have become permanently embedded in Germany's cultural landscape. Therefore, replacing the external sign is not only an aesthetic measure but also a pragmatic one, aiming to maintain a high visual standard and the safety of the structure, which over the years has become a kind of monument for metal fans.