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.
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.
Sober but Not Somber
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.
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.
Tutu Tuesday
In case you weren’t aware, tutus are a big deal at Burning Man. In fact, so many people love wearing tutus that the term “Tutu Tuesday” was coined as an offshoot of this popular costume choice. People of all genders and identities dress up in colorful, rave-tastic tutus on the Tuesday of Burn Week.
People often wear their tutus with bathing suit tops, knee-high socks, and shorts. Some of the most daring Burners choose to wear nothing at all underneath their tutus. It’s all a matter of personal preference. The main point of Tutu Tuesday is to express yourself and celebrate radical inclusion. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that wearing a tutu is incredibly fun and freeing.