DAYTONA BEACH — In the marathon battle between heat and heavy metal, rock ‘n’ roll prevailed as Welcome to Rockville roared through four days of music from more than 150 bands against a backdrop of triple-digit heat index values across the sweltering infield at Daytona International Speedway.

“You guys are badasses,” proclaimed Everclear singer Art Alexakis, acknowledging the 90+ degree temperatures during that band’s midday set on Friday. “Give yourself a big hand for rock ‘n’ roll.”

Those temperatures would continue to soar into the mid-90s through the weekend, but it didn’t seem to deter the crowds that massed in front of the festival stages, created long lines at souvenir stands and water refill stations, not to mention packing every inch of the expanded shade structures that became almost as popular as the bands.

Although official attendance figures hadn’t yet been announced, there was every indication that the event would reach its anticipated goal of another record-setting turnout.

Expectations ahead of the event were for daily crowds of 55,000 fans. That pace would yield a record turnout that would surpass the more than 200,000 fans at last year’s event, according to Los Angeles-based promoter Danny Wimmer Presents.

That 2024 total eclipsed a previous record of 170,000, set in 2023 in Daytona Beach, the festival’s home after relocating five years ago from its longtime base in Jacksonville.

Welcome to Rockville bend rules to keep fans cool

Although the unrelenting heat didn’t stop the music, the festival did change a few of its long-standing policies to keep fans cool under the blazing sun.

A flower child at heart displays a peace sign on Thursday's opening day of the mammoth Welcome to Rockville music festival at Daytona International Speedway. Despite the extreme heat, the four-day event hosted more than 150 bands on five outdoor stages on the Speedway infield.

By Saturday, the promoter had eliminated the festival’s no re-entry policy for the remainder of the event. That allowed fans the opportunity to head out to their vehicles for air-conditioning and then return to the festival when ready.

Also, the price of bottled water on the festival grounds was reduced from $4.50 to $2 throughout the weekend. For on-site campers, there was free ice available (one bag per campsite) at the Pit Stop General Store on the festival’s campgrounds.

Also on Saturday, a new free water refill station was opened near the Turn 1 stages, Inferno and Vortex. An additional free water station also was added in front of the festival’s Apex main stage. That one was equipped with overhead sprinklers for more cooling.

Throughout the weekend, two 6,000 gallon tankers with spray hoses were feeding the expanded free refill points for festival goers to top off water bottles throughout the day.

Although no official statistics were available, the festival’s multiple medical tents treated a steady stream of folks dealing with the heat, according to staff on the ground.

Thursday’s opening day was "a very busy day" at the medical tents, according to a staff member of the Speedway's emergency crew. The best advice for those about to rock?

“Everyone needs to stay hydrated," said the staff member, who wasn't an authorized spokesperson. "People need to get to a tent for some shade. There are a lot more (people) this year. And they need to start drinking a lot more water."

Rockville fans were undaunted, despite the heat

For veteran Rockville fans, such as camper Jeremy Nelson, of Orlando, the heat wave was no problem at all.

Jeremy Nelson, right, and his friend Benny Pasquier hang outside their RV on Friday at Welcome to Rockville at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach.

“I'm happy for the sunshine, even when you have to seek shade," said Nelson, who has attended the festival annually since its Jacksonville days. "That's way better than lightning."

This year, he made the 50-mile commute with friend Benny Pasquier in his 31-foot Jayco RV, accessorized on the Speedway’s infield camping area with a tent decked out in U.S.A. red, white and blue along with flags representing Canada and the Rolling Stones.

It was a display of global unity that reflects the spirit of the festival, Nelson said.

“Everyone comes to bring their stories," he said, adding that he has met new friends from Australia, Canada, the Carolinas and Minnesota during this year’s event.

"It's just a vacation to bond over music,” he said. “It’s great to see everyone smile. It's a big release from the everyday grind."

At Welcome to Rockville, music fans ‘find their people’

Out on the midway, where rock fans could find official festival T-shirts for $45 or one-pound burgers for $32, the vendors also praised the music-centric vibe at Rockville.

Artist William K. Stidham, based in central Mexico, has sold his watercolor paintings, skateboard decks and drink coasters at all the major festivals, Bonnaroo and the rest, but ranks the Rockville crowd as his favorite.

William K. Stidham in front of some of his paintings he's selling at Welcome to Rockville on Friday at Daytona International Speedway. "This is my true audience," he said.

"This is my true audience," he said. "These people are here for the love of the music and to experience the camaraderie. They find their people out here."

That sentiment was echoed by Alexis Lynch and her friend Haleigh Dawson, who traveled from Florida’s Panhandle for the weekend.

Friends Alexis Lynch (left) and Haleigh Dawson, who traveled from Crestview for the festival, flash smiles on the Welcome to Rockville midway. "I just enhoy the scene," Lynch said. "It's full of a lot of great people, with a lot of great stories."

For them, it’s about more than headbanging music.

"I just enjoy the scene," Lynch said. “It's full of a lot of great people, with a lot of great stories. On top of that, you hear a lot of great music that has saved a lot of people.

"This won't be our last time here."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 'Happy for the sunshine': Daytona's Welcome to Rockville rolled despite extreme heat wave