Burning Man (USA)

by TribalReunion

Burning Man 2024 – 25 August – 2 September 2024, Black Rock City, Nevada, USA


Above the Dust ~ Burning Man 2022

Burning Man – A Creative & Connected Utopia In The Desert

Burning Man is an annual event that takes place in Black Rock City in Northwest Nevada. For nine days each year, the event erects a temporary city in the heart of the Black Rock Desert; created entirely by its citizens and active participants. Founded in 1986 by The Burning Man Project, the annual event has welcomed thousands of burners to ‘the playa’ for more than 30 years. Made up of an entirely self-sustaining and self-reliant community, Burning Man aims to create the ultimate experience in the pursuit of a creative and connected world through self-expression. 

The 10 Principles of Burning Man

In 2004, the co-founder of Burning Man established The 10 Principles of Burning Man, reflecting on the ethos, values and culture of the Burning Man community. The principles emphasize Radical Inclusion, where anyone and everyone can be a part of Burning Man and respect each other. Radical Self-reliance and Radical Self-expression are also a focus of the community’s culture; encouraging participants to discover and rely on their inner resources, while sharing their unique gifts with others.

The community also relies on Communal Effort and Civic Responsibility, ensuring that everyone in the community actively cooperates together to protect and promote each other while ensuring the safety and welfare of the public. Burning Man is also strongly committed to Leaving No Trace, where the community endeavors to not only respect the environment, but also leave the place in even better condition than it was originally. You can learn more about the 10 Principles of Burning Man here.

Art and Performance

burning man playa
Photo by Andrew Wyatt / Burningman.org

One of the core principles of Burning Man is Participation and many ‘burners’ participate in the event each year through art and performance. The playa features a wide variety of art installations of all shapes and sizes, including ‘the man’, a centerpiece, which is burned towards the end of the event. Other types of art include café art and mutant vehicles. There are also a variety of performance opportunities, from drummers to lamplighters, DJs and musicians and even circus performers.

Page Top Photo: “Monumental Mammoth by Tahoe Mack & Dana Albany” by Eleanor Preger


Burning Man Gallery


Burning Man Location

Burning Man is held at the following location:

Black Rock City, Nevada USA

Burning Man takes place in a temporary metropolis in the Black Rock Desert in Northern Nevada. The nearby towns of Empire and Gerlach act as ‘guardians’ of the desert region and offer last-minute essentials and resources to visitors of Black Rock City.

BlackRockCityis designed in a unique circular layout, occupying 2/3 of a circle. The city is divided into sections, referred to by numerical points on a clock and 13 ‘annular streets’. Center Camp is located at the base of the inner circle and ‘the man’ just north of the center. On The Playa, there are organized campsites, as well as a variety of art installations, theme camps, infrastructure camps and more.

How to get to Burning Man – Check Burning Man page for detailed information


Burning Man FAQ

❓ Where is Burning Man located?

Burning Man takes place at Black Rock City, a temporary metropolis created in the Black Rock Desert each year. The festival site is also referred to as ‘the playa’, and is located around 120 miles north of Reno, Nevada.

❓ How big is Burning Man?

Burning Man is one of the largest and most sought out music and arts gatherings in the world. Each year, the event welcomes thousands of local and international visitors. There are approximately 67,000 tickets available; however, children under 12 can attend for free with an accompanying, ticket holding adult. With the addition of children, artists, guests and more, the total population of Black Rock City currently stands at just over 80,000; increasing in size each year.

❓ How do I get to Burning Man?

Burning Man is accessible by both private and public transport. If you are driving to Burning Man the easiest way is to insert the coordinates into your GPS and head towards Black Rock City. There are also detailed routes and scenic options from the East, Pacific Northwest, North, South and Reno available on the Burning Man website. Burning Man also offers a Rideshare Board, where you can coordinate a ride with other visitors driving to the event.
If you are flying to Burning Man, you can fly into Reno Airport, where there are plenty of car rental options available, as well as an official shuttle. Black Rock City also erects its own airport each year for special chartered flights. Private pilots must preregister and qualify in advance in order to fly into Black Rock City Airport.
Burning Man helps to reduce traffic as well as environmental impact by offering an official shuttle service. The Burner Express Bus offers transfers from San Francisco or Reno and back. The San Francisco route departs from the Civic Center and tickets start at $123 one-way. The Reno route departs from Reno-Tahoe International Airport and tickets start at $83 one-way.
You can find more details on how to get to Burning Man here.

❓ How long is the festival?

Burning Man takes place across 9 days towards the end of August each year. The event is held the week prior to Labor Day weekend from Sunday until the following Monday. New visitors can enter any time before 6pm on the final day; however, ticket prices are standard for the entire duration of the event and there are no discounts or single-day passes available.

❓ What are the facilities available at Burning Man?

The aim of Burning Man is to create a temporary, self-reliant community so the facilities available are minimal. There are over 1000 porta-potties available throughout the grounds, which are regularly serviced and cleaned each day. Wheelchair accessible bathrooms are also available. There are also ranger outposts located throughout the city, where you can receive minor medical attention. Ambulances and emergency helicopter transportation are also on call for serious medical emergencies.
Burning Man is a commerce-free event and there are only two things sold on The Playa: coffee and ice. Visitors must bring all essential supplies including food and water. There is a daily shuttle service available to the Empire General Store for $10; however, the selection of supplies at the store is minimal.

Top Photo “Monumental Mammoth by Tahoe Mack & Dana Albany” by Eleanor Preger

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