

Burning Man Festival 2017

Burning Man is an annual gathering in the western United States at Black Rock City—a temporary city erected in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada.

The late summer event is described as an experiment in community and art, influenced by ten main principles: "radical" inclusion, self-reliance, and self-expression, as well as community cooperation, civic responsibility, gifting, decommodification, participation, immediacy, and leaving no trace.

First held 31 years ago in 1986 on Baker Beach in San Francisco as a small function organized by Larry Harvey and a group of friends, it has since been held annually, spanning from the last Sunday in August to the first Monday in September (Labor Day).

Burning Man 2017 was held from August 27 to September 4.

At Burning Man, the community explores various forms of artistic self-expression, created in celebration for the pleasure of all participants.

Participation is a key precept for the community – selfless giving of one's unique talents for the enjoyment of all is encouraged and actively reinforced.

Some of these generous outpourings of creativity can include experimental and interactive sculpture, building, performance, and art cars among other media, often inspired by the yearly theme, chosen by organizers.

The event takes its name from its culmination, the symbolic ritual burning of a large wooden effigy ("the Man") that traditionally occurs on the Saturday evening of the event.

Burning Man is organized by the Burning Man Project, a non-profit organization.

This year, over 85,000 people attended Burning Man.

Smaller regional events inspired by the principles of Burning Man have been held internationally.

Some of these events are also officially endorsed by the Burning Man Project as regional branches of the event.

The elevation at Black Rock City is approximately 3,900 feet (1,190 m) above sea level.

The Burning Man festival is a 30-year old tradition.