Complete Burning Man Guide
The most stunning experience in life so far. Burning Man – what a fantastic and surreal project. Thanks to all the fantastic people we‘ve met on this journey during Burning Man 2022 / Awaking Dreams. You made this Burn unforgettable for us. This is our contribution to Burning Man 2022, Blackrock City and the “Playa”. A 6min cinematic short-film of our personal highlights as well as a complete guide about the most important things to consider.
Big thanks to “We Love Models” and the fantastic track “Ignite the flames”, produced just for this short film. You guys are amazing!
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There's no place on earth even coming close to Burning Man. A unique experience of self-expression, peace and community driven art projects. Even if we call it "Festival" in this article - it's NOT!
The Burning Man Festival is a unique and iconic event that takes place annually in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. This festival is known for its art, self-expression, and self-reliance, as well as its commitment to building a temporary community that celebrates inclusivity and creativity.
One of the most striking features of the Burning Man Festival is the stunning art installations that are created by participants. These art installations range from large-scale interactive installations to smaller, more intimate pieces, and they are all designed to inspire and engage festivalgoers.
How much does it cost?
In terms of price, the Burning Man Festival is not cheap! Tickets for the event typically range from $425 to $2,500, depending on the level of access you want. This price includes access to the festival grounds, as well as access to the various art installations and events that take place throughout the week.
It gets really crazy if you plan to go there with an RV rental. Prices during the week of Burning Man are extremely expensive. They range from $5’000 to $11’000 (or even more, depends of the size of the RV and pick-up location). RVs are usually also sold out month in advance – especially closer to the Festival itself (i.e. San Francisco, Reno, etc)
To prepare for the Burning Man Festival, it’s important to come prepared with all the necessary supplies. This includes everything from food and water to warm clothing and sun protection. Below you can find our Top 20 List.
It’s also a good idea to bring a bike, as the festival grounds are quite large and walking can be difficult in the hot desert sun.
Top 20 Items to bring to the Burning Man Festival
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Water – It’s important to stay hydrated in the desert, so make sure to bring plenty of water bottles and a water filtration system.
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Sun protection – The desert can get very hot, so make sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
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Warm clothing – Nights in the desert can get chilly, so bring warm clothing such as jackets, sweatshirts, and long pants to keep warm.
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Comfortable shoes – You’ll be walking a lot at the Burning Festival, so make sure to bring comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
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Camping gear – If you’re camping at the Burning Festival, make sure to bring a tent, sleeping bag, and other essential camping gear.
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First aid kit – It’s always a good idea to bring a basic first aid kit in case of any accidents or injuries.
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Cash – There are no ATMs at the Burning Festival, so make sure to bring enough cash to cover any expenses you might have. At the Burn itself you can’t buy anything except of Ice! There’s no money available at all during the festival.
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Personal hygiene items – Bring items such as toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, and wipes to stay clean and fresh throughout the festival.
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LED lights – LED lights are useful for marking your campsite and making it easier to find your way around at night.
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Costumes – The Burning Festival is all about self-expression, so make sure to bring a few costumes or other creative clothing to wear.
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Art supplies – If you want to participate in the art installations or create your own art at the festival, bring supplies such as paint, markers, and other creative materials.
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Trash bags – The Burning Festival is a Leave No Trace event, so make sure to bring trash bags to properly dispose of any waste you generate.
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Reusable water bottle – To reduce waste, bring a reusable water bottle that you can refill throughout the festival.
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Headlamp – A headlamp is a useful tool for navigating around the festival at night and can also be used for finding your way back to your campsite.
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Bike lock – If you’re bringing a bike to the festival, make sure to bring a lock to keep it secure.
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Earplugs – The music at the Burning Festival can be quite loud, so bring earplugs to protect your hearing and help you sleep at night.
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Portable charger – Keep your phone and other electronic devices charged with a portable charger.
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Map of the festival – A map of the festival can help you navigate your way around and find the various installations and events.
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Wet wipes – Wet wipes are useful for cleaning up and refreshing yourself throughout the festival.
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Good attitude – The Burning Festival is all about community and self-expression, so make sure to bring a positive and open-minded attitude to fully enjoy the experience.
Orientation at Black Rock City
Black Rock City is the temporary city that is built for the Burning Man Festival in the Nevada desert. The map of Black Rock City is an essential tool for navigating the festival and finding your way around. Here’s how to understand the map of Black Rock City and its street signs:
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Orient yourself – The map of Black Rock City is laid out in a circular pattern, with the Man and the Temple at the center. The main thoroughfares of the city are laid out in a spoke pattern, radiating out from the center. To orient yourself on the map, look for the Man and the Temple and use them as a reference point.
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Understand the street names – The streets in Black Rock City are named after the clock face, with the main thoroughfares starting at 12:00 and proceeding clockwise. For example, 12:00 is at the top of the map, 3:00 is on the right side, 6:00 is at the bottom, and 9:00 is on the left side. The cross streets are named using a combination of letters and numbers, with the letters indicating the direction of the street (N, S, E, W) and the numbers indicating the distance from the center of the city.
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Look for landmarks – The map of Black Rock City includes various landmarks and points of interest, such as art installations, theme camps, and restrooms. Look for these landmarks on the map to help you navigate your way around the city.
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Follow the street signs – Black Rock City has a variety of street signs to help you find your way around. The main thoroughfares have large, tall signs that indicate the direction and distance to various points of interest. The cross streets also have smaller signs that indicate the direction and distance to the nearest thoroughfare.
By understanding the map of Black Rock City and its street signs, you’ll be able to navigate your way around the festival and find your way back to your campsite with ease.
Things to avoid
As we mentioned above, Burning Man is not a festival. Even though you’ll hear a lot of music, this project is not comparable with traditional festivals. It’s more kind of a pop-up city and you can’t buy anything there.
Please consider the following:
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Bringing more stuff than you need: Burning Man is all about living simply and leaving no trace, so try to pack lightly and only bring what you really need.
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Not respecting the Ten Principles: The Ten Principles are the guiding values of Burning Man and include radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy. Make sure to familiarize yourself with these principles and make an effort to follow them throughout the festival.
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Not respecting personal boundaries: Burning Man is a place for self-expression and exploration, but it’s important to remember that everyone has different boundaries and it’s important to respect them. Be mindful of your own behavior and make sure to ask for consent before engaging in any physical contact with others.
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Not staying hydrated: The desert climate at Burning Man can be very hot and dry, so it’s important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Make sure to bring enough water with you, and consider bringing a water bottle or hydration pack to make it easier to stay hydrated throughout the day.
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Not taking care of your physical health: Along with staying hydrated, it’s important to take care of your overall physical health at Burning Man. This includes wearing sunscreen, protecting yourself from the sun, and getting enough rest.
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Neglecting your personal safety: Burning Man can be a chaotic and unpredictable environment, so it’s important to take steps to ensure your personal safety. This includes being aware of your surroundings, traveling with a group, and having a plan in case of an emergency.
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Not respecting the land: Burning Man takes place on public land in the Black Rock Desert, and it’s important to leave no trace and respect the environment. This includes properly disposing of trash and not littering.
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Not respecting the art: Burning Man is known for its incredible art installations, and it’s important to respect them and the artists who created them. This includes not touching or vandalizing the art and respecting any rules or guidelines that may be in place for viewing the art.
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Not respecting the community: Burning Man is a community-driven event, and it’s important to respect the people who make up that community. This includes being mindful of your behavior and considering how it might affect others.
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Not respecting the local culture: Burning Man takes place on the land of the Paiute tribe, and it’s important to respect their culture and history. This includes being mindful of any cultural practices or rituals that may be taking place and being respectful of the land.
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Not respecting the dress code: Burning Man has a “bare as you dare” dress code, but it’s important to remember that this doesn’t mean you can wear anything you want. Be mindful of your own clothing choices and make sure to dress appropriately.
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Not respecting the theme: Each year, Burning Man has a different theme, and it’s important to respect that theme and incorporate it into your own personal expression.
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Not respecting the music: Music is a big part of the Burning Man experience, and it’s important to respect the music and the people who are playing it. This includes not disrupting performances or being disrespectful to the musicians.
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Not respecting the camps: Burning Man is made up of a series of camps, and it’s important to respect the boundaries and rules of each camp. Be mindful of your behavior and make sure to follow any guidelines that may be in place.
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Not respecting the environment: Burning Man is an outdoor event, and it’s important
How to get there?
To get to the Burning Man Festival, the most common method of transportation is by car. The festival grounds are located in the Black Rock Desert, which is about a four-hour drive from Reno, Nevada. There are also shuttle options available from Reno, as well as from San Francisco and other nearby cities.
If you’re planning on attending the Burning Man Festival, here’s how to get there:
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Fly into Reno, Nevada – The nearest airport to Black Rock City is Reno-Tahoe International Airport, which is about a 2-hour drive from the festival site. There are several major airlines that offer flights to Reno from cities around the world.
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Rent a car or RV – Once you arrive in Reno, you will need to rent a car to get to Black Rock City. There are several rental car agencies at the airport, or you can book a car online in advance.
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Drive to the festival site – From Reno, take I-80 East towards Fernley and Sparks. After about an hour, take exit 447 towards Empire/Gerlach. From there, follow the signs to Black Rock City. The drive from Reno to Black Rock City takes about 2-3 hours, depending on traffic.
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Purchase a ticket – In order to attend the Burning Man Festival, you will need to purchase a ticket. Tickets can be purchased online through the Burning Man website, or through authorized ticket resellers.
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Arrive at the festival – When you arrive at the festival, you will need to pass through the gate and check in with the staff. They will provide you with a map of the festival and any other necessary information.
It's important to note that the Burning Man Festival has a strict Leave No Trace policy, which means that you will need to bring everything you need for the duration of the festival and leave no trace of your presence when you leave.
This includes food, water, shelter, and all necessary supplies. There are no facilities or services available at the festival site, so you will need to be self-sufficient.
Overall, the Burning Man Festival is a truly unique and memorable event that attracts people from all over the world. If you’re looking for an immersive and creative experience that pushes the boundaries of traditional festivals, this is the event for you. Just be sure to come prepared and ready to embrace the unique culture and community of the Burning Man Festival.