Burning Man is an annual festival held in the high desert wilderness of northern Nevada. Each year around Labor Day, thousands of artists, performers and free spirits converge for a week-long celebration that culminates in the ritual burning of an enormous human effigy. Participants build a temporary community in the Black Rock Desert, and call it Black Rock City.
The event has also been described as: "a gathering of people doing weird stuff in the desert".
Official site, with the essential survival guide, a guide for first-timers, message boards, information about volunteering, city ordinances, art installations, theme camps and villages, press kit, and ticket sales. www.burningman.com
This rubber chicken travels the playa collecting stories and images from those she meets. Also a collection of Burning Man images from 1996 to 2000 (many transferred from the peterman.org site). www.playachicken.com
Citizens of Black Rock City who volunteer their time to facilitate the safety and well-being of others. Reasons for being a ranger, how to apply, events calendar, survival guide, resources and community information. www.rangers.org