Metallica to headline 2 nights of ‘Welcome to Rockville’ fest
The heads will be banging in a sea of metal fans when the Welcome to Rockville music festival takes over Daytona International Speedway next May as Metallica has signed on to headline not one, but two nights of the three-day event.
The iconic band known for songs like “Enter Sandman,” “One” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls” will play both Friday, May 8, and Sunday, May 10. The band last played Central Florida at a Camping World Stadium concert in July 2017, which was 14 years after the band’s previous visit.
The festival is moving from Jacksonville to Daytona Beach for 2020 with the event’s full lineup coming in an announcement on the fest’s website at welcometorockvillefestival.com on Dec. 10, but passes will be on sale beginning Monday, Oct. 14, at noon to the general public.
Metallica fan club members and people who have purchased tickets to Danny Wimmer production events in the past can access the ticket packages now.
Weekend general admission prices start at $169.50 and VIP passes at $499.50.
The concert has drawn major headliners before including Ozzy Osbourne and the Foo Fighters.
The site allows for tent camping and RVs, but those spots won’t be on sale until Nov. 19.
It’s a rain-or-shine, event.
As the event is a venue for bands often known for aggressive celebratory fans, as in those who are fans of mosh pits and crowd surfing, the website offers up a little FAQ warning for the phenomenon.
“Moshing occurs when a group of patrons run at and slam into each other during a show. It often takes place in a loosely organized circle within a general admission crowd (a “mosh pit”), although it can be as simple as two people repeatedly running into each other during a show and bouncing off in another direction. Moshing can occur in any area of a general admission crowd, including directly in front of the stages,” reads the website.
“Moshing can be dangerous to both participants and bystanders. Moshers can suffer bruises, cuts, sprains, and broken bones, especially where some participants are bigger than others, are moshing more aggressively, or if someone gets hit when they’re not ready.”
And then for crowd surfing, the website explains, “Crowd surfers have virtually no control of their bodies once they are above the crowd. Surfers can be groped, hit, or dropped. Although crowds experienced with surfers generally all-ages try to pass them towards the stage, there is no guarantee where or how the ride will end or how the surfer will find their friends in the crowd once they come down.”
To be safe, the production company encourages visitors to “Be aware of your surroundings … All of us are responsible for our own safety! Have a great time at the show, and take care of yourself and others!”
And once you’re in the festival, there’s no reentry, so make sure you bring enough funds to enjoy the day.
Things not allowed at the site: coolers, picnic baskets, outside food or beverages, glass containers, video cameras, GoPros, audio recording devices, laptops, tablets, professional cameras or cameras with removable lenses, selfie sticks, lasers or laser pointers, drones, chairs of any kind, umbrellas, hula hoops, totems, balloons, beach balls, confetti, glow sticks, aerosol cans, whistles, air horns, fireworks, explosives, musical instruments of any kind, bags, backpacks, drawstring bags, purses, duffle bags, reusable water bottles, camelbacks, weapons of any kind, drug or drug paraphernalia, pets (except service animals), gang-related colors or patches, chains, chain wallets or spikes.
But don’t worry, you can bring clear tote bags.