Burning Man - an unusual festival
Thousands of people from around the world build their own city in the Black Rock Desert of the United States for Burning Man. Each year, the art created for the festival follows a distinct theme.
Build your city in the desert
People usually go to a festival to enjoy art or music created or performed by others. But at the Burning Man festival, participants themselves create the art. Together they construct a city in the desert. They then live there for days before burning everything.
From beach to desert
In recent years, the festival has taken place in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. It was first held in San Francisco’s Baker Beach 30 years ago, however. During that time, Larry Harvey, the festival founder, and his friends performed a summer solstice evening ritual of burning an effigy of a man.
It's now international
Burning Man is now an international event. This year, nearly 70,000 people from all over the world are attending the festival, which always starts on the last Sunday in August and continues until the first Monday in September. This year it is being celebrated from August 28 to September 5.
Plan submission
This year’s art theme is "Da Vinci’s Workshop." Artists were asked to submit their works ahead of the festival. Organizers then chose which submissions were put on display.
No stage
Organizers say there is no main stage at Burning Man. The whole of Black Rock City is a stage. Participants can expect to encounter performances anywhere and anytime during the festival.
'The Man' burns on Saturday
Like Larry Harvey and his friends did 30 years ago, a large wooden effigy, called "the man" (seen in the picture), was erected this year on the festival grounds and will be burned on Saturday evening.
Do it yourself
As per the festival rules, participants have to burn their art on an approved burn platform and then clean up the remnants.