Calling all freaks!
Posted on 08/28/2002 12:15:46 AM PDT by Ipberg
RENO, Nev. -- Thousands of techies, old hippies, trippers and artists from worldwide are on their way to the northern Nevada desert for the annual Burning Man counterculture festival.
Although the event known for its eclectic artwork, music and games began yesterday, most participants aren't expected to show up until later this week at the Black Rock Desert, 120 miles north of Reno near Gerlach.
Billed as a celebration of art and radical self-expression, the 17th annual gathering is expected to draw 28,000 people from at least 40 states and 20 countries.
"There's a certain energy out here, everybody is having a blast. It's Mardi Gras in the desert," said Don Lawson Jr., a participant and storeowner from nearby Empire.
The weeklong festival, which combines camping and offbeat art and music in a 5-square-mile encampment known as Black Rock City, climaxes Saturday night with the ceremonial torching of a 70-foot-high wooden effigy of a man, the event for which the festival is named.
"We want participants to be safe and have an enjoyable experience out there," said Dave Cooper of the Bureau of Land Management's Winnemucca field office, which must approve a permit because the event is on public land.
But he warned participants that drug laws again would be enforced.
Last year, BLM rangers issued more than 100 citations to participants, mostly for marijuana possession. The agency also made several arrests for possession of larger amounts of drugs.
"We will enforce drug laws just as we would in any other community," Cooper said.
Burning Man spokeswoman Marian Goodell said information on drug laws has been included in a guide mailed to ticket holders.
"We have always urged people to recognize state and federal laws, which includes drugs," she said.
Burning Man creator Larry Harvey started the first festival at San Francisco's Baker Beach in 1986 and moved to the Nevada desert in 1990.
Burning Man features a crazy, anything-goes atmosphere. Participants are encouraged to participate by operating theme camps, such as the Costco Soulmate Trading Outlet where celebrants can line up dates. Other activities include body painting and dominatrix training.
Participants wear every kind of costume imaginable -- or nothing at all since clothing is optional.
To combat dust storms that have plagued the event in recent years, organizers plan to water down streets in the tent city that even has its own air strip.
Tickets for the event began at $130 and now cost $250. Ticket sales at the gate will end at 11 p.m. Thursday. No commercial vending is allowed.
Ahhh... my type of people.
Calling all freaks!
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