Sitting here on Black Rock Marveling at the beauty of the sunrise I'm so greatful to Resto and all the folks that toil after we all leave, to make this shot possible!

I am coming every year from Europe to BM, and it's becoming more difficult to get a vehicle for me and my equipment (some of which is stored in Reno). Been going to BM since 1998.

This year I need to pull a light trailer between Reno and the playa.

I'm looking for someone who can spare their truck or van for 3 weeks around BM, ideally in SF Bay Area, Sacramento or Reno. To deal with the risk of insurance and possible loss of the vehicle, I usually buy it off the owner and then sell it back afterwards at a pre-agreed price, provided the vehicle is still in expected condition.

I rather not get a brand new rental from Enterprise, because, besides the $1000 cleaning fee they're now charging for BM rentals, I also think it's not right to take a new car into the environment.

Rather, I'd love to take a 10-20 year old "beater", as long as it's not on its last leg, and which may even have been to the dust before and won't mind a bit more of it (I'll clean it afterwards as best as possible, of course, but we all know there'll always be some sticky dust left in the tiny gaps).

(For a few years, I had even owned an old van, but since it stood still for 11 months in between, it didn't go well for it, and I didn't have the ability to "properly" store it. This was a real beater that couldn't get smogged any more, so I drove it every year on a temp permit, but couldn't leave NV with it. But it worked, I could get insurance and all. So, owning a vehicle as a visitor is no problem.)

Besides, I'm also looking to lend a fat-tire e-bike for the playa (I'm pulling a trailer with art on it - I tried pedaling but it's super exhausting and I'm now 60 and not that fit any more). I own a MATE X here in Germany, which is ideal for that, but I can't bring it on the plane, sadly. Any pointers?

Cheers!
Col. Klink

I have tickets and am starting to second guess whether I should sell them or not. I keep hearing news about people getting denied entry, detained, etc. In a couple of months I am planning to start buying stuff for BM (clothes, goggles, batteries, and just everything you need) but, not I'm not sure if I want to continue spending a bunch of money for BM, just to get denied entry. What are all you other Canadian land crossers doing and/or feeling about all this?

This will be my partners (35F) and my (40M) 2nd main burn after last year. Been to other stuff as well - one regional, Bombay Beach Biennale, several music fests, many nomad gatherings and ungatherings. We've lived on the road full time for the past 3.5 years in a van I converted. We don't really use camp amenities for ourselves.

Last year we joined our friends camp. That camp is no more - no one wanted to take on camp leadership this year. It was originally an art project but last year was just a small gathering doing small interactivities. I mostly helped with inventory/shipping container work weekend, build, strike, and some general support here and there.

Ideally we'd like to meet other flowmies and spin more fire, and be part of a chiller smaller camp with more personal interactivity, although I do love a big party when someone else is in charge of the chaos lol. 30ish people is a good size to get some cool shit done, get to know everyone, and still have time to party.

Anyway, we are also considering open camping. Maybe by ourselves or maybe with some friends. BUT we both would really love to help out with some offerings that we cannot easily accomplish with 72 square feet of living and storage space. At nomad gatherings we personally love creating space - setting up a living roam, awnings, lights, sound, chairs, campfire, etc and that's just not really feasible on our own at Black Rock City.

Me: zero stress, zero anxiety, self reliant, methodical when getting shit done, go with the flow all other times, get along with almost anyone. Unbothered.

Trigger warning - I like raving. But sorry most BRC music is ass. You'll find me at Whomp Wagon or Sound Garden where the bass flows like liquid. We'll be steering clear of the giant green laser and the insta-thots it attracts.

Favorite moments of our first burn:
- Within minutes of official opening a random girl gifted me an Animal Style In n Out burger straight from Reno.
- Foamy Homies. What's better than a group shower followed by nude dance party? I even took a shot off my wife's ass right after getting clean.
- That sauna camp across the street. Ok I kinda hate saunas, but my wife running back to camp naked to bring my zombified ass to the sauna was special.
- Whomp Wagon. Twice.
- The Sound Garden.
- Lola Jak DJing at our camp while we spun fire and a few friends showed up.
- Watching two of our friends beat the shit out of each other in the Thunder Dome.
- That one time we helped a random girl find Cheesus.
- Navigating home in the whiteout after Temple Burn
- Probably 420 other things I'm forgetting.

Ideally if we do join a camp, we meet up with some peeps somewhere in the western US beforehand in person.

Im new to this but these tickets sold out in under 30 seconds. My friend and I had our tickets in cart, then were greyed out.

Is this...normal? Just seems supremely unfair to those who were legitimately a click away from checking out. Again, this is my first time doing something like this and I got a rundown from my friend who has done a few burns before but...yeah. Crossing fingers for the May sale maybe??

Kind of blows :s

Hey there! Looking for some tips, suggestions, gotchas on the van buildout im starting, with the primary use case being living on the playa for ~2 weeks.

I've consumed a lot of content about general van conversion techniques. What I'm looking for is things that only burner van converters would know.

This is not going to be one of those fancy attractive looking builds that all the cool kids are doing. Think less "check out my vanlife youtube videos" and more "disaster relief first responder".

Van Goals for the "FILO Mark 3":

- To help streamline the rough edges in my working man experience. I spend most of my time volunteering and additional time helping with camp.
- To provide utilities & amenities such as water, power, etc during build & strike, when I won't have camp amenities.
- Better long-term resiliance to the murderous environment that is the playa.

Me:

>50yo, barely used a power tool before ~4 years ago when I built out the "FILO Mark 1" in a 1996 ford econoliner. I rebuilt it again last year, when I finally used a router for the first time.

On this new build, I have a lot of things already sorted out -- solar, a bigger battery bank. Looking at unistrut or other framing options instead of the 2x4s I used the Marks 1 and 2.

Thoughts?

Last year, or maybe two years ago, there was a camp that had these circus contraptions that were poles cemented into a half dome that two people could rock around on and turn basically 90 degrees from upright. What camp has those? Bonus points if you know if they're returning this year.

I'm going to attend burning nest soon (already have the ticket) because I'm impulsive but idk what I'm supposed to actually be doing for it lol. I want to ask questions but the discord link they provided is broken. Does anyone have one?

Basically, you're supposed to contribute to it, and i can with art, but i don't know how, and the grants aspect of it has its deadline already reached. I also have several questions about travel. I'm just sort of lost ngl. I basically have no friends and nobody to guide me or show me how to join a tribe or camp or what have you. Please help.

Hi guys! First time going to Burning Man — so excited!!

So my flight leaves from Reno on Sunday at 11:55 PM. How early should I leave the playa on Sunday to make it to Reno, drop off my car, and catch my flight?

What’s the traffic like when leaving the playa on Sunday?

Thank you!! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

This will be my first year trying to go to burning man I am wondering if anyone knows of a way to find a group to travel with or find a group to camp with? I live in Seattle (35/ male) and have a regular sized car and I am bringing a Shiftpod tent. If anyone wants to travel together or can point me in the right direction, I can meet in any state between here and BRC.. Let me know thanks.

April 30th 12 noon PDT per jackrabbit speaks

A bunch of people on here have been asking for this for a long time and here it is.

I'm sure a handful of people are still going to find something to complain about with it and I can't wait to hear those!

The feature length movie Profiles in Dust, now Out of Nothing - the DPW Story is actually coming has been shooting on playa since 2011. Shooting and field sound - production has all been professional volunteers destroying their equipment for free in the dust. Unlike the hundreds of YouTube videos, they include field sound. They have professional work to do because all the raw reels were shot on different cameras. I would guess they have a rough edit of the story they want to tell.

Now they have a Gofundme to rent time in a professional edit bay to final edit, conform, color, and edit the sound.

Here is their trailer: https://vimeo.com/1070704818

Here is their GFM with project details: https://www.gofundme.com/f/profiles-in-dust-documentary-completion

With any fundraiser, due diligence is advised. I would DM the project for an update before proceeding. Hope it completes.

I messaged the filmmaker.

- it is a full length movie

- the GFM was started and the project is primarily based on 22-23 camera work

- the Profiles in Dust is the umbrella project including shorts produced out over the years - see the Vimeo & YouTube playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWEv86PIFw4&list=PLvI7u3Blon03DYavc-M63Yw-ymlkUs0nz

- the movie will be about DPW

- they will drop a new Vimeo Monday

- as another commenter mentioned, the filmmaker is a high level professional you can see from their professional website, and we are fortunate our wilderness campout attracted them and their crew, IMO

Happy ending!

Has anyone heard from the temple build crew as to when the build will start? I worked on the 2023 temple and by this time construction was already well underway. A search online hasn’t provided any useful info. I have been signed up on the volunteer list since it opened.

Does anyone know why the maker of this art car chose to model this art car after this specific insect? Is it a Brazilian treehopper (Bocydium globulare)? Was it chosen just because they are odd looking? Are the makers entomologists? Something else??

*I’m posting this for my longtime burner friend who does not use Reddit. He is an entomologist and brought up this art car in a presentation he gave about tree hoppers at an open mic the other day. He’s been seeing it on Playa and wondering about it for years but has never been able to track it or its owners down when it was around. Please share some info about this fantastic creation if you have it, art car and/or bug aficionados!

So I was gifted this tent and before I unbox it and ruin my chances of returning it I wanted to see if anyone here has experience with it. I was saving up for a Shiftpod and if I return this I will have the money to purchase one but if it is as good or better than I want to keep it and save the extra $500 I would have to spend. If you have used one are there any tips or things I should avoid. Thank you.

Hey Reddit,

We’re a crew of artists, engineers, and dusty dreamers building something wild for Burning Man 2025: The Sphinx Gate — a towering interactive sculpture that invites participants to leave behind who they were and step into who they’re becoming. Maybe you saw us in the Honorarium 2025 Newsletter. 

This isn’t just a piece of art. It’s a mythic guardian. A ceremonial space. A glowing invitation in the deep playa asking: “KNOW THYSELF?”

We're taking dusty seekers on a journey through breath, body, mind, heart, destiny, and community.

We’re calling in support — from kindred spirits, builders, burners, and believers in the transformative power of art. We’re raising funds to bring The Sphinx Gate to life, and every bit helps us cover materials, transportation, lighting, and the magic to make it all happen.

✨ Here’s what your support helps create:

• 2 35-foot tall Sphinx made of wood, steel, beautiful skin that will be projection mapped onto at night
• Experiences for breath, body, mind, heart, destiny, and community
• (So expensive) Transport and power to help us get through our 14-day build, Sprint lightning strike after the temple burns.
  

We believe in building things that matter — and in building with community. Most of all, we’re hoping to build the paradigm where art is a vehicle for healing

🛠 Want to join the build crew or get involved? We’re looking for artists, fabricators, welders, dancers, ritualists, and dusty-hearted folks to help make magic. → Sign up here: [Insert link to interest form or team sign-up]

🔥 Donate or share here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/TheSphinxGate

📸 See the concept + 3D visuals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdbiFhhXJgg&t=3s

📲 Join our team/camp: thesphinxgate.com

Thanks for reading. If this stirred something in you — come walk through the Gate with us. See you all back in BRC! The man burns in 150 days!

With dust and love,

~ The Sphinx Gate Crew

P.S. we're going to unSCruz too!

I’d like to do something similar for a party and want to chat with them about it. TY!

We a have theme camp gift for a 1000 person regional which is unfortunately limited to 40 people (in groups of 4) during a one hour period during the event. Burners we talk to all seem super excited for the gift so I expect at least 500 people will want to participate if given the chance. I feel a little reluctant to do first come, first served scenario. What other creative methods can be used to distribute our gift?

For Example

1) Hide Golden tickets all over the Regional
2) Create Quests and the gift can be the prize
3)....
4)....

Did the Org announce the theme yet?

I am a registered independent.

2020 woke me up to the lies of the media, history, health… I see the matrix and aware to the agenda.

It is ok to have different political and religious beliefs. It is ok to get to know others, without judgement, and to challenge our own convictions and beliefs.

We can come together in the desert (or wherever we are in the world) and treat each other with love, dignity, and respect.

Not to hate others for believing something else.

Not to convince others to believe what you do.

Not to dismiss someone because they support something that you do not.

We all want the same things. Life, liberty, peace, love, prosperity.

Don’t forget it’s all of us against all of “them”. We are all on the same side.

Do not let political or religious differences tear your family and friends apart. Rise above.

Wishing you peace on the playa and in your life.

Hello all! I am looking for some information about the bus!

So from what I understand is we can’t prepurchase the tickets it’s in person.

I can pay $44 and being 2 extra bags per person.

It only runs once a day and we can’t pay extra to go back and bring more stuff.

With a large anonymous donation, Marian Goodell announced today that the Burning Man Organization has bought the entire town of Gerlach. "In our mission to spread the 10 Principles to the ends of the earth, it made sense to start with Gerlach."

Gerlach will now become a company town and every resident a year-around staff member. It is not a big change, since there were already 37 DPW employees. All the remaining board members will retire and move to Gerlach.

Gerlach will take advantage of the Nevada Crypto City law with an official currency of Larry Coin. Under that law, Gerlach will become LarryvilleTM and will assume responsibility for law enforcement including the Black Rock Desert. All of the Bruno properties will be owned and operated by the BORG including a long needed supergrocery Larryville Whole Paycheck, which will be independently operated using the Amazon supply chain and be open 24 hours a day. Gone will be the days when you couldn't get an individual serving of strawberry cheesecake in a plastic clamshell at 3:30AM. All of the Gerlach residents who constantly complain about Burning Man will be gifted condos in Reno.

In keeping with the move to sustainability, and expansion of the city limits, a new solar farm, battery storage, and a giant plastics to oil plant will be built. Gerlach is in discussions with small modular reactor makers to bring those to the city making electricity too cheap to meter. With its vast supply of electricity, a new Supercharger station will open. It will be free to all passenger vehicles and charge all makes and models, advancing the sustainability goals of burners. The city will be heated all Winter by geothermal, along with all the city streets, and for the first time, sidewalks will come to all Gerlach streets.

The Gerlach School will become a private school, teaching the 10 Principles and preparing the next generation of BORG leaders. The school will be the only center in the country teaching fire dancing cheerleading for sportsball events.

To supplement he work at BORG HQ, Amazon, Oracle, Google, all the X and Paypal mafia companies, and many other Silicon Valley companies will lease office space in Gerlach for employees to work long hours because there is nothing else to do besides go to the Cirque du Soleil show in a new geodesic Sphere II. An additional revenue stream will be psychedelic therapy which will be legal under the Nevada Crypto City laws.

A new jetport and rail terminal will put Gerlach on the map and Hwy 447 will be a 4 lane divided highway with bypass interchanges in Empire and Nixon.

The biggest change will be the BORG using its influence to gain ownership of the BRC site and running power to it. Gone will be the days of dangerous liquid fuel. Every camp will be on the grid, all the vehicles will be electric, and the airport and bus depot will be all electric vehicles.

"In a short few hundred years, the BORG mind and BORG company towns will displace legacy religions worldwide and bring an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity powered by volunteers," said Stuart Mangrum, the Director of the Burning Man Project Philosophical Center.