Burning Man definitely has a reputation for being a hotbed of 24/7 drinking, psychedelics, and other mind-altering substances. However, not everyone goes out to the desert to take part in the drunken revelry. There is a growing community of sober Burners, so much so that there are a few sober-focused theme camps.
Burners won’t find anything but cold water in these giant coolers. Thankfully, the sober-focused theme camps create a supportive environment for Burners who can’t or won’t partake in drugs or drinking. People can still have a blast at Burning Man while chugging water. The best part? There’s no risk of a hangover the next day.
Rising from the Ashes
Black Rock City only exists once a year. After Burning Man is over, the entire city is deconstructed and disappears without a trace. In order to set up infrastructure for such a huge gathering of people, a team of volunteers spends up to a month beforehand setting everything up. A big part of the set-up involves constructing all the large-scale sculptures.
Some artists spend a whole year planning out their art pieces. Then, about two weeks before opening day, they show up to Black Rock City to begin installing their creations. The placement of each sculpture, installation, and camp is carefully plotted out by Burning Man volunteers, making the 9-mile city a teeming center of art and culture for one week a year.
The Perfect Shot
Many Burners have complained about influencers and ultra-wealthy attendees taking over Burning Man in recent years. Despite the influx of people obsessed with getting the perfect shot for their socials, the beauty of the Black Rock Desert is undeniable. People planning a trip to Burning Man can, of course, take as many photos as they want. But they have to follow certain common-sense rules.
Photographers and models at Burning Man have to be respectful of the art installations and other people’s space. No matter how good someone looks, people need to ask permission before snapping a photo. Another rule is that creeps aren’t allowed. This is generally a good rule for all aspects of life, but Burners monitor each other during Burn Week to make sure no one’s inappropriately using a telephoto lens or harassing young women who attend the event.
Disneyland for Adults
If you love Disneyland’s famous Electrical Parade, boy, do we have news for you. Burning Man is basically Disney’s Electrical Parade but for adults. Every night during the event, specially-made sculptures, rides, and interactive installations light up the desert sky with LED lights and fire. The pitch black of the barren desert makes quite a backdrop for bright neon light shows and elaborate pyrotechnics.
This elaborate sculpture serves as a playground during the day and a breathtaking light show at night. Obviously, the flames coming out of the slide make this installation inaccessible during the evening. But it sure makes a cool light show to admire from afar. An important part of enjoying Burning Man’s electrical obsession is to stand a safe distance from any fire. Besides, bright lights look more beautiful from a distance.
Rise of the Mutant Vehicles
The only way to get to Black Rock City is via car or RV. However, you won’t see any old SUVs driving around the Burning Man camp. Burners leave their regular cars behind after they check-in and use mutant vehicles instead. Mutant vehicles are moving art pieces. Burners must create their own mutant vehicles from scratch, or they can use a stripped-down base frame. The wilder their creation, the better.
The main objective is that all Burning Man cars must be handmade and cannot resemble a regular vehicle in any way, shape, or form. People get extremely creative, building movable pirate ships, fire-breathing rhinos, metallic sharks, and so much more. The only requirements for mutant vehicles are a five-mile-per-hour speed limit, headlight capabilities, and working brakes.