“During the day you can ride your bike around and just make random stops at all the camps giving things out. A typical afternoon might include a corndog, being launched in to a pool of stuffed animals, a freezer truck with hot beverages, the very gay "bear shower happy hour," a Madonna dance party with snow cones, and then a touching communal dinner back at camp.”
“You just never know what is out there and you can only see about 2% of it anyway so you give up and learn to just go with the flow. The place is unique but in a way that you would wish everywhere could be. The people seem freely themselves,” Travis told Bored Panda. “The hardest part about leaving is knowing there will be a loss of these freedoms. And, with those loss of freedoms is often what makes it hard to be the nice and expressive person you wish you could always be. Burning Man is an experience for sure. How you categorize... there aren't really words for that in any language. I think this is why it is so universally appealing.”
The very first Burning Man festival was held on Baker Beach in San Francisco, in 1986. And every year since, the gathering has attracted what seems to be the most creative (not to mention peculiar!) people on Earth.
When I saw photos from the Burning Man for the very first time, I thought I was looking at some alternate post-apocalyptic timeline where Mad Max somehow got crossed over with Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. It was mesmerizing. It was confusing. But nobody can deny it was a feast for the eyes.
But what does the festival stand for, and what are its core values? Well, back in 2004, the festival’s co-founder Larry Harvey came up with the Ten Principles that encapsulate what it’s all about. Among these are the ideas that absolutely anyone can be a part of the festival, that we should all give others gifts unconditionally, and that the festival shouldn’t become exploited by commercial sponsorship.
What’s more, the festival promotes radical self-reliance and self-expression, as well as communal effort and civic responsibility. Lastly, the Burning Man respects the environment, calls upon everyone to participate as fully as possible, and values immediate experience, which helps overcome our inner barriers.
I would love to experience Burning Man for myself — what about you? What do you love most about the festival? Is it the quirky costumes? The supernatural art installations? Or the marvelous atmosphere?
