Burning Man is an annual, week-long event held in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, where tens of thousands of participants gather to create a temporary city called Black Rock City. The event focuses on community, art, self- expression, and self-reliance
. The name "Burning Man" comes from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy called "the Man," which takes place on the Saturday evening before Labor Day, marking the event's symbolic climax
. The event originated in 1986 on Baker Beach in San Francisco and has since grown into a large-scale gathering with around 80,000 attendees as of recent years
. Burning Man is guided by ten core principles established by co-founder Larry Harvey in 2004, which include radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy
. The event operates without commercial transactions; instead, participants gift goods and services to one another, fostering a community based on cooperation and creativity
. Art plays a central role, with participants creating experimental sculptures, performances, and interactive installations inspired by an annual theme
. The event is described as a countercultural celebration and a participatory cultural movement rather than a traditional festival, emphasizing active involvement over passive observation
. In summary, Burning Man is a unique cultural event that combines art, community, and radical self-expression in a temporary desert city, culminating in the symbolic burning of a large wooden figure and a commitment to leaving no trace on the environment
