Burning Man attendees were ordered to shelter in place and conserve resources Saturday after a devastating rainstorm.Trevor Hughes/USA Today Network via Reuters
- Burning Man takes place this year in Black Rock City, Nevada, from August 27 to September 4.
- The festival faced several obstacles so far, including a protest and torrential downpours.
The year's Burning Man is off to a rocky start.
The annual festival officially began on August 27 but splintered before guests even arrived in Black Rock City, the temporary town erected in Nevada's Black Rock Desert each year.
According to SFGate, many resale tickets have been priced below face value as some guests skipped or wavered on attending the typically pricey affair.
In an interview with the outlet, a veteran "Burner" pointed to several reasons, including brutal weather conditions at the 2022 festival may have dissuaded would-be attendees and finances likely influenced some people's decisions.
And now, tens of thousands of Burning Man attendees are stranded due to rainstorms that turned the desert into a mud pit.
Here's how Burning Man 2023 has played out so far.
Tropical Storm Hilary brought heavy rains to the Burning Man campsite, causing a gate closure for guests ahead of the festival's start.
Climate activists protested Burning Man by blocking the two-lane highway leading to the festival.
Climate activists temporarily stopped festival attendees from entering the campsite by creating a roadblock on August 27, causing a traffic jam on the highway.
Some activists also chained themselves to a trainer in opposition. The protesters, who held signs reading "Abolish capitalism" and other messages, asked the Burning Man organizers to ban private jets and single-use plastics.
The Guardian reported that four protesters were arrested, and local authorities removed the blockade.
Burning Man advised guests to shelter in place and preserve resources as bad weather continued.
A Burning Man attendee makes their way through the mud in Black Rock, Nevada, on September 2, 2023. Trevor Hughes/USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERS
Burning Man Traffic warned guests about the impending bad weather on Friday afternoon. By 11 p.m., the account advised guests to shelter in place and conserve resources.
"For anyone in BRC, help each other stay safe. The gate and airport in and out of Black Rock City remain closed," the X post read. "Ingress and egress are halted for the time being. Stay prepared for adverse weather conditions continuing through the night and into Saturday."
On Saturday, a statement from The Bureau of Land Management published by USA Today said any attendees hoping to enter Burning May wouldn't be permitted for the remainder of the event.
"Rain over the last 24 hours has created a situation that required a full stop of vehicle movement on the playa. More rain is expected over the next few days and conditions are not expected to improve enough to allow vehicles to enter the playa," the statement read.
Burning Man attendees — including Chris Rock and Diplo — shared footage of the muddy event.
Burning Man organizers told Insider that mobile cell service trailers and buses are being deployed amid the threat of more rain.
The mud covers the ground at the site of the Burning Man festival in Black Rock, Nevada, US, September 1, 2023, in this screen grab from a social media video. PAUL REDER via REUTERS
A Burning Man festival organizer told Insider in a statement that organizers conducted "table-top drills for events like this" and are working to provide an exit for stranded attendees.
In a press release Saturday, the Pershing County Sheriff's Office said the area is anticipating more rain "for the next few days, which could cause further delays and disruptions."
One person died during the event, but authorities did not share details.
People walk through the mud at Burning Man in Black Rock, Nevada after a rainstorm turned the site into mud on September 2, 2023. Trevor Hughes/USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERS
On Saturday, NBC News reported that the Pershing County Sheriff's Office announced the death, which happened "during this rain event."
"As this death is still under investigation, there is no further information available at this time," the statement said.
"Most Festival operations have been halted or significantly delayed," the sheriff's office added.
As of Sunday morning, the gate and airport leading to and from Black Rock City remained closed.
The Burning Man Traffic account shared the following information in an X post: "The gate and airport in and out of Black Rock City remain closed. Ingress and egress are halted until further notice. No driving is permitted except emergency vehicles. If you are in BRC, conserve food and water, and shelter in a warm space. More updates to come. Stay safe!"
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