[imagesource:burningman.org]

Once a year, tens of thousands of people gather in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to create Black Rock City, a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance.

Sometimes called a crucible of creativity, thousands of free-spirited people will flock to the desert like moths to a flame, in what has also been called the most erotically charged environment you could ever find in the desert.

The Burning Man Festival was originally founded on Baker Beach in San Francisco in 1986, but is now known as one of the wildest camping events of the year and has attracted A-listers including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Will Smith. Revellers, known as Burners, are expected to bring “all they need to survive” in the harsh desert where conditions are ‘often violent and unpredictable’ and ice is the only thing sold in the temporary city.

This year, 80,000 people have forked out $575 (R10 600) on tickets to be part of the self-reliant community that builds Black Rock City — with the event kicking off on Sunday, August 27, and lasting until Monday, September 4. It’s the world’s biggest trance party, and this year promises to have an extra bit of eroticism for those who like to get their nethers sunburnt.

Campers can take part in arts and craft events, yoga, meditation, and friendly ping pong tournaments, but there’s truly something for everyone at Burning Man. One of the bigger attractions this year includes the notorious “Orgy Dome”, which has been at Burning Man since 2003, and offers a “safe, consensual, sex-positive, inclusionary and exploratory environment”.

The theme this year is ‘Animalia’, so lord knows what dehydrated party-goers can expect there.

The name of the event comes from its culminating ceremony: the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy, referred to as the Man, that occurs on the penultimate night of Burning Man.

Epic view from above. 🔥 )'( 🔥
The Man, 2022 (video by Alex Medina, song: “Orbital Love” by Hollt) pic.twitter.com/r9Xcjj0MYr

— Burning Man Project (@burningman) September 23, 2022

The event originated on June 22, 1986, on Baker Beach in San Francisco as a small function organised by Larry Harvey and Jerry James, the builders of the first Man.

Originally just a bonfire ritual on the summer solstice, a friend of Larry Harvey’s girlfriend, Janet Lohr, held solstice bonfire gatherings on Baker Beach for several years prior to 1986, some of which Harvey attended. When she stopped organising it, Harvey “picked up the torch” and ran with it – in the process creating the most famous party ever.

Because of the variety attendees, known as “Burners,” Burning Man does not have a single theme and features of the event are up to the participants, and include ‘community, artwork, absurdity, decommodification and revelry.’ And of course a lot of fornication.

Naturally, the likes of Elon and Jeff Bezos will not to be slumming it and stay in camps nicknamed ‘plug-n-play’ camps. They in general consist of lavish RVs and luxury restroom trailers that are driven into the city and connected together to form de facto gated areas. These billionaires then fly into the airport on private planes, are driven to their camps, served by hired help, nicknamed ‘sherpas’, and sleep in air-conditioned beds.

These upmarket camps go for up to $16,500 (R306 000) per person, and have naturally ruffled some feather amongst the ‘ordinary’ peeps riding around in pimped-out bicycles. Burning Man’s ‘radical inclusion’ principle however says that everyone can come and get their freak on as they wish, so the pushback against these over-the-top camps is more focussed on the carbon footprint these okes lay down as they G5 into the venue.

Whatever you status, flavour or dress code, Burning Man has become a feature on most raver’s bucket lists. The nine-day party will come to an end with the traditional symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy and campers will then have to leave the desert as they found it as they return back to their normal lives.

If these pics are giving you some serious FOMO, check out the official Burning Man Instagram page for more pictures of people frolicking in the desert.

 

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A post shared by Burning Man Project (@burningman)

Marco Cochrane makes art intended to spark ideas, conversation, and action. His latest piece was no exception — GAIA was inspired by, and in honor of, nurturing energy, love, and connection. She is the joy we feel when we take care of each other and our planet. (📷: E. Preger) pic.twitter.com/QmQjgp72sO

— Burning Man Project (@burningman) November 3, 2022

One thing is for certain, there will be a definite dip in productivity in the US in the week after the event as people gather their self-respect, minds and emotions.

Everything gets a little frayed in the desert.

[source:wikipedia&burningman.org]