Rain turns Burning Man Festival a muddy mess with thousands stranded in loo-less limbo

The annual Burning Man festival, known for its vibrant mix of art, music, and counterculture, faced a twist this year, as torrential rains turned the Nevada desert into a muddy swamp.

The festival, known to celebrate grit and self-reliance in battling extreme heat and revelry, found itself grappling with the challenge of excessive rain which became a logistical nightmare with nowhere to escape in the middle of the desert.

88NV, the temporary desert airport to serve the festival was also closed following the weather situation.

One person even died on Sunday (September 3) at the event in the Black Rock Desert attended by over 70,000 partygoers, Reuters reported.

Worries piled up

• Many attendees tried to escape the makeshift city with plastics wrapped around them to get to the nearest highway, some 8 kilometres away, in order to get to the nearest town, Reno, some 177 kilometres away. In order to do so many got stuck in the swamp in the middle.
• Following the rain, driving around the city was stalled too as many RVs and cars were stuck. However, a few emergency and 4*4 vehicles could operate to facilitate a bit of rescue and help.

• Music producer, Diplo and comedian Chris Rock along with a few others hiked for 5 miles in the mud to be rescued by a fan. His X post said, "just walked 5 miles in the mud out of Burning Man with Chris Rock and a fan picked us up."

• Neal Katyal, a professor of law at Georgetown University and former acting solicitor general during the Obama administration, mentioned that he, along with a group of individuals, undertook a six-mile hike to reach Gerlach, the closest town, the NYT reported.
• There have been reports of a shortage of working toilets in the city too, along with food and drinking water. Authorities fear improper disposal of human waste could even lead to a health hazard in the coming days.

• There had also been news of an Ebola outbreak in the city, which later was found it be a rumour, according to an X post. 

ALSO READ: The story of 88NV, a desert airport that operates for only a week in the entire year

The postponed burn

• Originally scheduled for Saturday night, the festival's iconic ritual, the burning of a massive wooden sculpture known as "The Man," faced not one but two postponements due to the weather.
• The second delay pushed the event to Monday night, as the organisers grappled with the task of moving heavy equipment and ensuring fire safety amidst the rain and mud.
• According to the weather department, the rain in the area is expected to stop by Monday (September 4) morning.

Many undeterred

• Despite the setbacks, several attendees displayed their characteristic resilience, the festival's spirit of "radical self-reliance."
• Star Heartsong, a tech entrepreneur from Austin, remarked, "Burning Man is an all-weather state of mind," in line with the community's determination to make the best of the situation. “When it’s time to leave, we’ll leave,” he added.
• Despite the downpours and mud, the festival's atmosphere remained festive.
• Videos on social media showed costumed attendees, including children, gleefully sliding through the muck.
• Brian Fraoli, a veteran "burner" from New York, told Reuters the fun that arises from extreme situations, noting that "when you get pushed to extremes, that's when the most fun happens."

The Community

• Burning Man has evolved significantly since its inception in 1986 as a small gathering on a San Francisco beach.
• Today, it draws a diverse crowd, including artists, tech workers, celebrities, and social media influencers, all committed to creating a self-sufficient, temporary community.
• The event's "gift economy" philosophy encourages participants to contribute without expecting anything in return.

Despite the hurdles, some festival-goers remained determined to enjoy the experience, continuing to dance, practice yoga, and discuss ways to improve Burning Man. In the face of adversity, their communal spirit shone through, affirming that Burning Man is not just an event; it's a way of life.