Organisers announced yesterday they are canceling the annual culture festival for the second year in a row due to the pandemic.

In a video announcement, Burning Man Project CEO Marian Goodell expounded on the decision to postpone the festival. "It’s too important to do half-assed," she said. 

The decision was based on a combination of factors “in an ever-changing world resist certainty to move forward.” the group said.

“Although here in the United States we may be feeling the weight lifting and the light at the end of the tunnel brightening, we are still in the pandemic, and the uncertainties that need to be resolved are impossible to resolve in the time we have,” their statement said.

Marian Goodell also mentioned they were considering requiring attendees to prove they have been vaccinated for Covid-19 if they went forward with plans to hold the event this year. BM organisers backed off an earlier statement indicating that they had already decided to make the shots mandatory.

The idea of the festival was to capp attendance at about 69,000 attendees this year. 

Goodell said that Burning Man still intends to host local events around the world: “We’re not canceling Burning Man. We’re just not doing Black Rock City,” she said Tuesday. “We are going to celebrate ‘Burn Week’ on line and off line.”

Some Burners may have an “unofficial” gathering this year at the playa.

Some people seem to have chosen to gather, recreate and celebrate Burning Man culture on the playa this year. The Bureau of Land Management says at this time public lands will remain open to the public. Anyone choosing to camp on the playa this year will need to be entirely self-sufficient. For all these years, since long before the organisation existed, Burners have looked after themselves and each other. - If you decide to head out there this year, BM has written a summary piece to highlight “How To Do It Right”. 

“To preserve our future in the Black Rock Desert, please recreate responsibly, support local businesses, read this important “know before you go” info, and remember to always Leave No Trace!” “If you go this year, you’ll need to be prepared.”

A few guidelines to get you started (these should sound familiar!):

• Never burn anything directly on the playa surface.
• Store fuel safely.
• Pack it in, pack it out. There are no trash cans in the Black Rock Desert. Don’t let anything hit the ground.
• DON’T PEE OR POOP ON THE PLAYA!
• Dispose of all fluids and materials, including gray water, by the appropriate means.
• Drive safely and at a reasonable speed for the conditions. Don’t drive erratically, ride on the roof or hang off the side of your vehicle, or drive while intoxicated.
• DON’T DRIVE ON WET PLAYA!
• Secure your load, inspect your trailer, have a backup plan.
• Bring everything you need for Radical Self Reliance. The desert is real.
• Break out your old Survival Guides or check out the last one we published online. Those lists of “what to bring” apply even more importantly now.

Will you go to the playa this year? If you do, be prepared, follow the necessary guidelines, and don’t forget that the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over yet. 

~ See you at the playa next year.