BURNING MAN

The temporary metropolis of Black Rock City becomes home to 70,000 people for the event

Like most people who have never been to Burning Man before, I had, of course, heard of it. I also had a general approximation of what would occur there, based largely on the accounts of people I knew who had gone and returned as newfound vegans and hippies. "It changes you!" says every soul who I've ever spoken to.

Our crew - style (and eye protection) is paramount

No Internet, no running water, no restaurants, no air conditioning, no power outlets, no cell phone reception, no shower, no cars driving faster than 5MPH; Many people would never sign up for something like this...but there is truly nothing like it.

The event brings 60,000 people together in a normally inhospitable “playa”, plagued by dust storms, occasional rain that turns everything to sludge, just-about bearable heat during the day and cold at night and an unforgiving sun that you really must have the maximum sunscreen for.

The point is actually radical self expression and radical self reliance. It isn't quite a festival, but feels like a mixture between a music and an art festival at times. It's actually more like a city than a festival, where the city is created spontaneously from nothing and every citizen is a participant.

It's a little hard to realise it at first, but Burning Man is actually more of a mentality and way of life than a simple one week trek to the desert. You truly live a different life.

The first step to getting to Burning Man is getting the ticket, and it’s also the hardest step. It’s no secret that getting tickets is not easy and they sell out fast. Be prepared to get online as soon as tickets go on sale and know how many tickets you’re planning to buy.

Important Ticket Dates:

January 14th: Pre-Registration

January 21st: Pre Sales ($800)

February 4th: Group Sales ($390)

February 18th: Individual Sales ($390)

At its core, Burning Man is an event that revolves around art, and it is abundant on the playa (grounds)

Joining a camp at Burning Man is possible through the Burning Man Website and online. Reddit is a great place to find other Burners, check Facebook for regional groups or head to events in your area where you can make friends and join a camp ahead of time.

While you can head there on your own in an RV or with a tent, infrastructure is one of the biggest benefits of joining a camp as there likely will be shade and other features made possible by traveling into Burning Man as a group with a plan.

Keep in mind, a camp is also about community, so try to choose with your own personality and interests in mind. Your camp will play a big part in your overall experience.

Burning Man is located in Black Rock City, Nevada and is referred to as the “Playa” by Burners. Reno is one of the closest cities to Black Rock City and the most popular for flying into Burning Man. There are also charter buses from Reno and San Francisco, as well as a small airport on the Playa for private planes

Sweet vibes 🐻

Burning Man is about self-reliance and embracing a gifting culture, meaning that you are expected to bring everything you will need for that week and you won’t spend money once you’re there.

Bring plenty of food (and enough to share with your neighbors), at least 2 gallons of water per person per day, a bicycle & bike lock (this is essential), clothes, somewhere to sleep (an RV or tent is most common) and something to gift.

One of the hardest parts of packing for Burning Man is wrapping your head around what to bring for food. Some people staying in fully air-conditioned RV’s may have a few more options than most, but the best rule of thumb is to pack non-perishable food just like you would for a camping trip.

You don’t want to bring anything that needs to be refrigerated if you’re camping. Many people bring BBQs, but, again, it’s pretty much impossible to keep perishable food cold for any length of time out there without an RV and a generator.

• Fully-cooked quinoa (high protein & filling)

• Fruit cups

• Canned tuna (or the pouches so you don’t need a can opener)

• Fresh fruit

• Peanut butter (individual packages are perfect)

• Protein Bars

Many people leave various types of offerings and rememberances in the temple, which is burned at the end of the week

Burning Man is all about the emotional and physical sense of leaving the weight of society behind. You are encouraged to have a spiritual experience of letting it all go, embracing self-acceptance and self-love, as well as surviving on only what you need

ART has become the defining feature of Burning Man, as the festival continues to be a testing ground for a growing circle of artists seeking engaged audiences. Burning Man art installations are guided by the themes chosen by the festival organizers each year. The most compelling works are large-scale constructions that are burned at the end of this extraordinary event.

Art cars are the main method of transportation aside from bicycles

While no money is exchanged at the event, attendees also need to be radically self reliant

Despite the lack of formal trash receptacles, the grounds are almost completely free from MOOP (matter out of place)

One of the most fun parts about Burning Man is the CRUCIAL need to light yourself up at night. This can range from glow in the dark shoelaces all the way up to headwear and glow sticks.

The reason being lit up at night is so important is because of the lack of light on the Playa, the massive amount of people moving in all directions on bicycles, and the danger of the moving art cars. You’ll want to wrap your bicycle (and yourself) in L-Wire and bring lots of extra batteries so you don’t run out of power.

Vehicle illumination is both stylish and practical for the dark desert nights

One thing all Burning Man attendees agree on: there's nothing else like it in the world