Have you ever heard of Burning Man? Chances are you’ve heard of Burning Man, but whether or not you’ve paid attention to anything other than the name is entirely different. There are plenty of people who have heard the name but never actually Knew about the event. It’s a type of significant development for the art community. We’re going to take a closer look at just what this event is plus what you should know before you decide to take a trip there next year. Most of all, we’re going to look at answering the question ‘is Burning Man worth it?’
Where is Burning Man Held?
The first thing you should know about this event is that it is held in the middle of the Nevada desert. And when we say desert, that’s what we mean. There aren’t any buildings in the area, and you’re not going to find things like restaurants and banks. You’re not going to see much of anything. All you’re going to have is the event itself and whatever the people who show up there choose to bring. That includes you, of course, if you do decide to go there.
This area of the desert is called the Black Rock Desert, and during the event, the city is called Black Rock City. It’s a highly remote area, and the only structures are ones that are brought by the organizers and participants. These usually include tents and RV’s.
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What Is Burning Man?
Maybe we should backtrack a little bit and take a look at just what Burning Man is. Considered a community, Rather than an event, and the community gatherers share an interest in the untraditional arts.
It’s a way of creating a real community of art lovers and building what the creators call a temporary city. They also refer to it as a global cultural movement. There are ten principles designed to be practical and simple for anyone to follow.
- Radical Inclusion – Anyone is welcome to attend.
- Gifting – Gifts are given without the expectation of receiving.
- Decommodification – Money should not be the determination of whether an experience is had or enjoyed.
- Radical Self-Reliance – Everyone should take care of themselves in every way necessary.
- Radical Self-Expression – Everyone should feel encouraged and proud to share their unique gifts.
- Communal Effort – Everyone is responsible for making sure that the event goes off well for the community.
- Civic Responsibility – Being a good citizen and caring for the event, and each other is the responsibility of each participant.
- Leaving No Trace – Cleaning up after oneself and making sure the event is fully dismantled is the responsibility of each participant.
- Participation – Joining in is part of the experience and should be encouraged by all.
- Immediacy – Everyone should be encouraged to learn more about themselves and to not let anything get in the way.
When is Burning Man?
Burning Man takes place in the summer, at the end of the season. It starts somewhere around Labor Day weekend of each year. Generally, it starts the week before the holiday weekend. It ends on that Sunday or Monday After burning the wooden effigy of a man. People make this yearly pilgrimage from all over the world to attend this genuinely free spirit event where art, community, and individuality are not just allowed but encouraged and celebrated.
How Much is Burning Man?
One thing that discourages a lot of people from participating in Burning Man because it’s not the cheapest thing that you can do. In fact, the least expensive tickets are $425 per person. This includes only your ticket to get in yourself, however, and doesn’t include the fee for your vehicle. That’s another $100 per vehicle that you bring in. There are some tickets, including pre-sale tickets, that are available for much more than this price tag, however, and they could go for as much as $1,400 per ticket.
The one good thing to keep in mind, however, is that the exchange of money for goods or services in black rock city is not allowed. Burning Man is. You don’t have to pay money for anything while you’re in black rock city, so long as you’re careful about what you bring to swap within the community—sharing things like water, Coffee, tokens, etc. Also, you can bring children along with you without having to pay extra. Anyone 12 or under is entirely free to attend.
Who Attends Burning Man?
Who is going to this event? From the different things we’ve talked about already, you might think the love, peace, and art mentality would only attract hippies, but that’s not the case at all. Many influential people from Silicon Valley have been to this event, and some continue to go regularly. People from all different walks of life have attended, and all of them have found something meaningful and exciting about the experience. Their answer to is Burning Man worth it would definitely be a yes, but that might not be the case for you.
The History of Burning Man
The history of this event dates back to 1990. That’s the first year of the annual event, but there was a Burning Man in San Francisco in 1986. Larry Harvey Built a 9 ft. Tall woodman. He was burned, ceremoniously, on a beach in the area to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Because people liked it so much, he decided to repeat the celebration the following year. After significant interest from others, Larry made the Burning Man effigy larger every year until it was almost 40 feet tall in 1989. It wasn’t until 1990 that the state of California prohibited the burning of his ‘Man.’
It was in that same year, 1990, that the event was first held in the desert. That’s because Kevin Evans and John Law, along with a group of others were going to travel to The Playa, the location no present-day Burning Man. Harvey chose to go along, took his ‘Man’ along, and burned it in the desert for the first time. It was the first event, but as we know, it has not been the last one. The burning man continues to this day and has only continued to get bigger and bigger, with tens of thousands of people coming from all around.
What Happens at Burning Man?
There is no set itinerary or schedule of events for just what happens at Burning Man. Instead, anything and everything can happen there. The spirit of community and the encouragement of individuality and unique gifts prompts many to participate in different types of events, to show off their skills and a great deal more. People are encouraged to celebrate their abilities and to show off their talents to others.
Within this community, people travel about, interact with each other, cook and eat together, play, dance, and a whole lot more. You can do just about anything you might want here, including getting massages, trying wine, zip-lining, and engaging in numerous other activities. Basically, whatever someone wants to bring and offer is going to be available, and everything is entirely free or bartered rather than paid for in traditional ways. Though it’s illegal, It is generally easy to find all different types of drugs.
If you’re looking for them, however, you’re not going to have a hard time finding anything. Still, it’s going to be a whole lot more fun to participate in Burning Man without the drugs addling your experience because you’re going to want to remember everything that happens on this trip.
The only structured thing that does happen at Burning Man is the event that gives this whole experience its name. The Burning of ‘The Man.’ This takes place on the very last day of the event when an enormous structure built to look like a man is burned. The event is a massive part of the experience, and it is celebrated by everyone who participates, which is generally over 70,000 people. This makes it a big party and a symbolic experience that really ties everyone together. It’s a way to celebrate the beginning of something new and the end of a fantastic experience.
Is Burning Man Worth It?
This is our ultimate question, and it’s something that you’re going to have to answer for yourself. In fact, there’s no way for someone else to tell you whether this event is going to be worth it. If you’re the type of visionary who loves to express their creative spirit or who has been looking for a way to get out of your comfort zone, this might be a great way to do it. This might just be what you’ve been looking for as a creative or an artist or just an individual who is interested in building strong communities with entirely new people.
If you’re the type of person who prefers museums and art galleries as the way you express and experience art, this isn’t quite going to be your cup of tea. In fact, you might be a bit overwhelmed by all the free spirit aspects of this event and the way that everyone there really gets into the experience. This event is for the person who is looking to free their mind and spirit.
When it comes to taking children, you’ll also have to use your own judgment.
When it comes down to it, the answer to “Is Burning Man worth it” will be different for everyone, but for most, it’s likely to be a yes. This event encourages people to become the best version of themselves and the authentic version of themselves. It encourages free expression, self-discovery, community, and all of the best things about each of us and the world around us. This event is truly a unique experience that is not replicated anywhere else in the world, and that makes it into something that is popular throughout the world. This event is something that is unique each time it happens, even if the general concept behind it is always the same, and that makes it truly amazing for anyone.