Often mistaken for some kind of wild music festival or extreme art exhibition, Burning Man is actually a much more complex event that combines philosophies of art, self-expression, community, radical inclusion, sustainability, and self-reliance.
The week-long celebration involves the construction of “Black Rock City,” a temporary metropolis that converges in the middle of the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. With over 70,000 annual participants, the Burning Man festival experience is something of an escape to a temporary adult playground.
The cornerstone of the event, amongst other mind-bending, moving, and interactive art installations, is “The Man,” which is a large-scale wooden effigy who symbolizes rebirth and renewal as he’s set ablaze on the penultimate night.
The ten principles
The concept of Burning Man, both as a festival and a philosophy, was founded on ten core principles:
- Radical inclusion: Everyone is welcome. The stranger is welcomed, no matter who you might be or where you might come from.
- Gifting: Participants give freely without attaching value to the gift and without expecting anything in return.
- Decommodification: The event is fiercely protected from commercialization with no commercial sponsorship or advertising. It’s all about genuine human connection.
- Radical self-reliance: Participants are encouraged to discover and rely solely on their own inner resources.
- Radical self-expression: Unleash your creativity without boundaries and embrace the unique gifts of each individual (with respect to the rights and liberties of the recipient, of course).
- Communal effort: Cooperation and collaboration to produce and promote public spaces, social networks and works of art.
- Civic responsibility: Everyone should act responsibly and respect the community with a mind for public welfare.
- Leaving no trace: Participants must thoroughly clean up after themselves, ensuring the desert is left as they found it with no physical trace of their activities aka MOOP or “Matter Out of Place.”
- Participation: With a radically participatory ethic and a goal of transformative change, everyone is encouraged to actively work and play to create the Burning Man reality.
- Immediacy: Be present and live in the moment with a sense of immediacy that overcomes the barriers between ourselves and the reality of those around us.
What to expect
- Costumes: Not required but many participants choose to dress up in unexpected and otherworldly attire. Expect to see everything from glittery bodysuits to steampunk cosplay.
- Art cars: Wildly decked-out vehicles that drive around the playa. Some are decorated with paint and attachments and others are fully erected to resemble elaborate cinematic constructions like giant creatures or pirate ships.
- Theme camps: Sub-communities within the community that offer various niche programming like interactive performances.
- Workshops and performances: Singing, sunrise yoga or impromptu fire-dancing shows, participants are guaranteed to always find an activity to join.
Survival tips for the uninitiated
- Be prepared: The Black Rock desert is an unforgiving landscape. Definitely over-prepare with plenty of water, food, and sun protection. Burning Man qualifies as extreme camping.
- Get dirty: Just accept the fact that you will be dirty for the entirety of the event. Most folks opt for a bandana and goggles to protect their face, at a minimum
- Keep an open mind: Burning Man is weird and messy and exciting. Embrace the unexpected and go with the flow.
Whether you’re drawn by the stunning art installations, the radical self-reliance, or the chance to participate in a unique community, Burning Man offers something for everyone. Embrace the principles, prepare for the adventure, and immerse yourself in the magic of the desert. The Burning Man festival experience is one that promises unforgettable memories.
