Burning Man Festival – August 25-September 2, 2024

History of Burning Man Festival

The Burning Man Festival Project is run by a non-profit corporation that took over from Black Rock City L.L.C., a for-profit limited company that previously handled the week-long event. Black Rock City L.L.C., founded in 1999, represented the Burning Man’s organizers and is now considered a subsidiary of the non-profit. Burning Man began as a small gathering of friends on Baker Beach, outside San Francisco, in 1986. The group started a tradition of burning a tiny, nine-foot wooden figure during the festivity. By 1987, the man had increased to 15 feet and by 1988, he was 40 feet tall. Larry Harvey formally named the summer solstice ritual “Burning Man.” By 1990, a couple of these people had split up and decided to host their own party in the Black Rock Desert.

Michael Mikel, one of the event’s founders, discovered that individuals were in danger walking throughout the immensity of the desert’s parched landscape, so he adopted the moniker ‘Danger Ranger’ and later founded Black Rock Rangers to secure the safety of attendees. Giving birth to the city of Black Rock. The burning man event in Nevada spread rapidly in its first several years only by word of mouth. By 1996, Burning Man had adopted a yearly theme and began erecting more extravagant man structures. Ticket prices were roughly $65 at the time. What started off as a small group of 20 friends in 1986 has grown to 70,000 people and beyond.

Burning Man has become a popular destination for celebrities and social media influencers. Participants design and build all the artwork, such as experimental and interactive sculptures, activities, and events. It focuses on community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance.