| It's been described with such superlatives as "Mad | | | | can exceed 37C, yet by night they can drop |
| Max meets Disneyland". Many have tried, and | | | | down to around freezing. Thunderstorms and dust |
| failed, to liken Burning Man to other festivals | | | | storms can arise with little notice, transforming |
| around the world; parallels have been drawn to | | | | the playa into one massive mud puddle in a few |
| Woodstock, the legendary rock festival that | | | | minutes. With no trees or natural shelter, winds |
| famously got out of hand when thousands | | | | average 25mph under normal conditions and can |
| crashed the gate and the heavens opened to | | | | rise to 70mph during a storm. |
| douse the whole event with heavy rain. | | | | Unlike other festivals where the entertainment is |
| England's much celebrated three day festival of | | | | laid on by the organiser - at Burning Man it's the |
| music and arts - Glastonbury, has also been | | | | festivals' own punters that are the entertainment. |
| compared to Burning Man, and though it is | | | | There is no main stage, no comedy tent, no |
| probably the closest contender that exists, the | | | | dance arena. Visitors are encouraged to |
| concept is very different to that of Burning Man. | | | | participate in the creative culture of Burning Man |
| The truth of the matter is that Burning Man is a | | | | by providing entertainment for others, whether it |
| completely unique event, the likes of which the | | | | is in the form of amplified music, theatre, |
| world has never seen before. | | | | performance art, sculpture - at Burning Man - |
| Every year, for five days, some 50,000 people | | | | pretty much anything goes. |
| make their way to the flat, parched playa of the | | | | Travellers from all over the States, and the rest |
| Black Rock Desert, 120 miles north of Reno in | | | | of the world, descend on Nevada every year to |
| Nevada. They come to form a temporary | | | | be part of this bizarre festival. En route - many |
| community, named "Black Rock City" that is | | | | spend a night in hotels in Carson City, Reno or |
| dedicated to self expression and radical self | | | | other nearby settlements, grabbing their chance |
| reliance. Unlike other festivals - Burning Man is a | | | | for a night in normal civilisation before heading |
| commerce-free event; there are no burger vans, | | | | deep into the desert the following day. |
| no bars, and no shops, in fact there are only two | | | | What the future holds for Burning Man is unsure, |
| things for sale in Black Rock City: coffee, and ice, | | | | but the steady growth of this unique event is |
| both of which are found in the Centre Camp. | | | | likely to continue to attract tens of thousands |
| Everything else (food, water, and shelter) has to | | | | each year, as long as the motto of the festival |
| be brought in, or traded for. | | | | remains true: |
| Black Rock Desert can be an unforgiving place | | | | "We will always burn the man". |
| and is subject to extremes; by day temperatures | | | | |