Burning Man is an annual week-long festival held in the Black Rock Desert of northwestern Nevada. It is centered around community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance, culminating in the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy called "The Man" on the Saturday evening before Labor Day
. The event creates a temporary city called Black Rock City, which becomes one of the largest temporary metropolises in the world, hosting around 70,000 to nearly 80,000 participants from across the globe
. Attendees, known as "Burners," actively participate by creating art installations, performances, theme camps, and mutant vehicles, all inspired by an annual theme chosen by the organizers
. Burning Man emphasizes ten guiding principles, including radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy
. The event operates on a "leave no trace" philosophy, ensuring the desert environment is restored to its original state after the festival ends
. Originally started in 1986 on Baker Beach in San Francisco as a small gathering, Burning Man moved to its current Nevada desert location in 1990, where it has grown significantly in size and cultural impact
. In summary, Burning Man is a unique cultural and artistic festival that transforms the Nevada desert into a vibrant, participatory community focused on creativity, self-expression, and environmental respect
