By all accounts, Burning Man was particularly good this year. The weather in Black Rock City was perfect, except for a couple of white-out dust storms that added to the sense of adventure. There wasn’t an exodus traffic jam, and the art was top notch. God knows the burners that made the trek this year, after two years of extreme heat and then extreme mud, deserved to have a little fun.
But the Big Burn, as many call it, isn’t the only decommodified, cocreated, psychedelic, effigy-burning campout available. There are plenty of regional burns across the United States and world that can get you the same sense of freedom and warm and fuzzy feelings for less money, effort, and environmental guilt.
“Big Burn was so much,” says New York-based burner Jasmine Elkins, who attended two regional burns this year instead. “I did have some amazing moments for sure, and I may end up going back at some point. But the cost—financially, mentally, energetically, environmentally—is so high, I don’t know if it’s worth it.”
Regionals are much smaller than Burning Man, ranging from a few hundred people to over 12,000 at Afrikaburn. Compared to the 80,000-person city of Burning Man, regional burns feel more like a friendly neighborhood.
“Regionals seem more accessible and personal,” says a longtime burner who goes by Rowdy. (Like several of the burners I spoke to, she didn’t want her full name used in case it interfered with her work). “If a person wants to get into burner culture, regionals are where they can connect with the community.”
“It’s like you took a block of Burning Man and plopped it somewhere,” says Gina Levy, a Berkeley-based burner who has been to Burning Man 16 times. She went to her first regional in 2011. “At Burning Man you might bump into somebody once. At these regionals, you’ll keep bumping into people over and over again.”
“I will almost always recommend regionals over the Big Burn,” says Scott, who I found in a Reddit thread on regionals. “Almost every regional has a slightly different flavor and can often absorb some of the local culture as well.” He’s partial to Reclamation in Kentucky, with about 100 people, Mosaic Experiment in Ohio, with about 650 people, and To the Moon in Tennessee, all of which have a “chill vibe,” he says, with lakes and waterfalls to cool off in, some sound camps with DJs and live music, and lots of fires around which you can sit and chat with people.
Scott has found his favorite regionals by looking for the local Facebook page for major cities when he travels for work, and going to small meet-and-greet events. (Though some burner communities have migrated to Discord.) Also, most of these events sell out pretty quickly, so you need to be prepared to jump on tickets when they’re available.
Some small burns are officially sanctioned and listed by Burning Man. Others keep some of the festival’s foundational principles like Radical Inclusion and Radical Self Expression, but are light on Radical Self Reliance and Decommodification. These gatherings rent shelter and sell food to attendees. Most only go for a long weekend rather than the Big Burn’s whole week. Some allow dogs, some don’t allow nudity, and many have neighbors, so amplified sound is turned down after 10 pm.
“Regionals can have quite varied terroir,” says a longtime burner who has been attending regionals for 18 years. Some burns are intensely hot and dry, like Flipside in Texas, while Frostburn happens on a bald mountain top in the dead of winter, leading to a different kind of whiteout. Love Burn in Miami feels like a particularly vibey extension of the club scene, while Playa del Fuego and Constellation are populated by older burners who would destroy a preening influencer with some well-honed snark.
This guide to regionals is far, far from comprehensive. (I know, I know. I totally missed the best regional burn. Go tell Reddit about it.) Consider this a tasty sampling or starting point.
Love Burn
At over 7,000 attendees, Love Burn is the biggest regional in the US, and the “easiest” one with the biggest party atmosphere. Located right on the beach in a park, it’s easy to get to and has access to a power grid and some park facilities. Participants can leave and re-enter, so some opt to stay in comfort in nearby hotels and Airbnbs. Unlike in Black Rock City, which is three hours outside of Reno, there’s full cell phone service, and attendees infamously take advantage of it to order UberEats right to the festival gate. It also works out to about half the cost of going to Burning Man. As a result, many people who kill themselves running camps at the Big Burn (Burning Man) go to Love Burn as a vacation.
Love Burn was Fernanda Uriegas’ first burn, even before attending Burning Man, where she met her partner who she lives with in Colorado.
“I would recommend that people who haven’t been to the Big Burn go to this one first. It could help them decide whether to go to the Big Burn,” Uriegas says. “The nicest thing about it is that you can walk from one place to another and you have service. If you lose your friends, you can find them. Or if you want to go back to another party, you can just walk back instead of biking 15 minutes.”
Not everyone appreciates the ease, however, accusing Love Burn of being a “plug n’ play” burn, the term for camps that charge high fees to provide beautiful people with a resort-like experience. There’s little emphasis on Radical Self-Reliance or Decommodification. Attendees leave more litter behind, and people wander in from the beach not knowing anything about the 10 Principles that create such a special experience.
“There were a lot of people walking around documenting everything without consent,” says Candice Snow from Colorado, who went once and won’t go back. “I would not feel as comfortable truly being free.”
While you do lose that sense of serendipity that comes from getting lost and found at Burning Man, or the personal growth that comes from challenging yourself physically and mentally, Love Burn can be more inclusive and magical for people who don’t want to or physically can’t thrive in the harsh Black Rock Desert. “I did love how accessible it was to non-burners, but without understanding the culture completely, it loses some of the magic,” Snow says.
AfrikaBurn
This regional burn tends to attract mostly Europeans and some Americans who have heard other burners rave about the art, music, and fantastic scenery of the South African desert.
At more than 12,000 people, it’s a large regional, but still feels intimate and down-to-earth. It’s mostly tents, a few camper vans, and no RVs. There has been more money flowing in recently to support more art and bigger stages for international DJs such as Monolink, but it still feels humble compared to Black Rock City.
“People are very serious about the principles,” says Cape Town burner Alan Levin. “Most people are not interested in you if you're not working hard and giving. There's very little taking in AfrikaBurn.”
The conditions are less harsh than the Black Rock Desert—the sand isn’t alkaline, the heat is less punishing, and you can sleep in your tent comfortably until about 11 am. You also don’t need a bike to get around the private property where it’s held, which has an unbounded view of the surrounding mountains. The six-hour drive there is equally appealing (as long as you don’t get a flat tire on the rough road). Bookending your AfrikaBurn with some time in Cape Town to experience the food, wine, art, and surrounding nature is advised.
“AfrikaBurn holds a very special place in my heart,” says Joep Mencke, a Dutch DJ and producer. “I think it has actually been my favorite burn, above Burning Man, mostly because of the community I go with.” His camp, which is affiliated with the nonprofit Bridges for Music in Cape Town, raises funds through its camp fees for the music school and brings the most talented young artists to play.
Mencke notes that, like any travel in South Africa, you may notice the racial divide. While AfrikaBurn is much more affordable than Burning Man—about 1,200 euros total for the week if you’re traveling from Europe and want some comfort—it is still out of reach for most South Africans.
Northeast Burns
Most of these gatherings in the Northeastern US have somewhere between 300 and 2,000 attendees, and some regional burners can and do roam from burn to burn almost every month.
That’s not difficult to pull off. Preparation is easy (at least, easier than Burning Man) and costs are low; tickets are usually $100, and survival supplies are limited to what you would need for a camping trip combined with a muddy festival. “All you really need to attend is a ticket, a tent, and food for the weekend. I guess if you're starting from scratch, the price could be anywhere from $500 to $1,000 between tickets, gear, alcohol, etc.,” says a longtime regional burner. Most people camp in a tent, though yurts and RVs are present. What you won’t get is huge art, huge sound stages, famous DJs, or famous influencers. If you need spectacle, you’ll be bored at these ones. But if you want to get high and vibe out around the campfire, pay these gatherings a visit.
Playa del Fuego in May and Constellation Burn in October are both in Pennsylvania, and attract old-timer burners who are committed to the 10 Principles of Burning Man, including Radical Inclusion. For example, there are discounts available for low-income Burners or people of color. The art projects are small, and the camps skew toward bars and activities.
For Constellation, “It's cold-weather camping, so most folks just bring a tent and a bunch of warm bedding. I know some folks that bring full UK-style glamping setups with mattresses and wood burning stoves, and also a dude that likes to sleep out in the open under a tarp,” says Christopher Venghaus, who is on the board of directors for the Firepony Creative Society, the governing organization for both Constellation Burn and Playa del Fuego. Playa del Fuego, in May, is warmer—you’ll appreciate bringing a shade structure or aluminet.
Though Firefly is held in Vermont over the Fourth of July, in a space with fields and woods, it’s populated by Massachusetts people (the nice ones, not the Massholes). There are big sound and art camps, and some amazing illuminated art projects during the night. The downside is that the organization is reportedly a bit lacking, and there are only a few porta-potties, so many people pee in the woods—or in jars when they need sleepy-time pee.
Next is Portal Burn in late July, with almost 600 attendees. It’s held in upstate New York near the Finger Lakes and has a pond for swimming, complete with an 80-foot slip n’ slide, and a big communal fire pit. The camps are mostly modest. Pack warm layers for the nighttime.
There is also NECTR, held in Connecticut in October when leaf peeping is at its finest. It’s smaller, held in a big open field ringed by forest, and unlike most burns, there’s almost no electronic music to be found.
Engulf
Many regional burners speak fondly of this southern burn, with about 600 to 700 attendees who party on what is called the “Piney Playa” an hour and a half outside New Orleans.
“Engulf was my first regional burn outside of the Pacific Northwest, and I loved it,” says Danielle “Relay” Latimer. “There is certainly more Cajun influence in the art given its location, but the spirit is very much the same as any other regionals. The camp next to mine had a couple of bedazzled shrimp as a part of their setup, which I found hilarious.”
It’s also a 21-and-over event, so that people can let loose a little more. The adult-themed camps are integrated into the main grounds, instead of being placed in a “Red Light District” like at other regional burns.
California Burns
These regional burns are low key and easy, and so attract a down-to-earth, multi-generational crowd. Held in June near Los Angeles, BEquinox doesn’t advertise itself much so it can stay small. Youtopia in October used to host over 3,000 people and was held outside of San Diego at an idyllic location. It has since moved and shrunk to a fraction of its former size. Unfortunately, reports are that the transition has not been very successful.
But unSCruz in May is growing on the strength of its varied music camps, its Red Light District, and its late-night parties. It’s held at fair grounds outside Santa Cruz, so it offers proper bathrooms, electricity, and running water, which attracts families and older people. “I met quite a few people in their seventies who said, ‘I love Burning Man and I’m too old to deal with the weather and stress,’” says Gina Levy from Berkeley.
These regionals give out grants for art, though the creations are not as monumental or abundant as at the Big Burn. People do wear fantastic costumes, but more for their own fun, not to get a pic for the ‘gram.
For shelter, people tent camp, stay in yurts, or bring RVs. “It’s a gifting, interactive amusement park for adults,” Levy says of these regionals. “If you want to meet cool people and have interactive experiences and dance, it’s perfect. Because it doesn’t have the challenges.”
Pacific Northwest Burns
Latimer, who lives in the Seattle area, favors SOAK, held over Memorial Day weekend outside Portland in the Tygh Valley for about 2,500 people, and Critical NW outside of Seattle in July for about 1,300 people. The weather for both is usually gorgeous.
This past year, Latimer brought her “typical retired boomer” dad to SOAK to help build the effigy structure for burning. “He was blown away to see that many people of all ages and all walks of life are drawn to burns, which goes against the typical, young, rich, attractive stereotype that's prevalent on social media.”
At both, it’s easy to walk around and see all the art and meet up with local burners that are active in Seattle and Portland. “You can easily plan multi-camp shenanigans and events ahead of time, which makes it all the more fun,” Latimer says.
On the site for Critical NW, she says, “you literally get to frolic around the forest with your fellow weirdos and not have to deal with cleaning up massive amounts of playa dust once you're home.”
Element 11
Even though it’s small—about 2,000 attendees—this event has an excellent reputation among burners. “The vibe deserves a standing ovation,” says Candice Snow.
Element 11 is held on Stargazer Ranch, private land that was bought for this purpose by a group of burners, so there are year-round structures, instead of everything being dismantled and burned at the end. “The landscape of Stargazer very closely resembles the conditions of Black Rock City,” Snow says. In fact, there is only one effigy burn, because of the arid, brushy conditions.
Attendees also report that curious current and former Mormons find their way to the festival. “I noticed quite a few are ex-LDS,” says Rowdy. “They tend to let loose their inhibitions.”
“Watching their transformation over the week is kind of magic,” Snow agrees.
There’s less prep to do for the five days of Element 11, though you do need to bring shelter, food, and plenty of hydration. While a bike can add to your experience, you don’t need one to get around.
Fuego Austral
“I would definitely recommend Fuego Austral to someone who is burnt out from Burning Man,” says Daniel Hugo Miceli, who is based between Buenos Aires and Berlin. “FA is the best of Latin America mixed with a burn—the people are super warm, friendly, and there is plenty of maté, asados [grilled meats], and an overall welcoming atmosphere that starts to feel a bit like a family.”
Having attended the Big Burn and several regionals in Europe, Miceli enjoys how committed the 1,000 attendees are to the 10 Principles and the spirit of Decommodification, even compared to Burning Man today.
He estimates the whole experience over five days can be done for around $300 to $500 (not including travel) if you do all your supply shopping in Argentina. The weather is usually beautiful and mild, and though it’s located 400 kilometers south of Buenos Aires, the journey to the event grounds through Argentina’s countryside is a beautiful experience in itself.
Borderland
Considered the Scandinavian burn, Borderland used to be hosted in various locations in Denmark, but it now has a permanent home on private forested land in Sweden with a lake. Weather can vary, but it’s certainly not as harsh as the Black Rock Desert. There’s plenty of shade, though it can get surprisingly cold at night and (unsurprisingly) you should be prepared for rain.
Unlike Burning Man, which has a staff for certain infrastructure necessities, Borderland is entirely volunteer-run, even the management of toilets. And instead of buying a ticket, you buy a membership via a lottery, which ranges from about $185 to $258. Each year, members vote on which art and interactivity projects, called “dreams,” will get funded.
It’s grown to about 4,500 attendees. “Which brings its own challenges, because when you have a subculture that is rapidly growing, it can be difficult to keep some of the culture alive, to make sure everyone knows the principles,” says Christina Buch-Larsen from Copenhagen. But she’s still a devotee, having experienced a lot of personal growth. “It’s been very triggering, very flow-y, very healing as well. Every day feels like a week.”
Ivo Naries, a DJ from Estonia, brought the Traveling Hedgehog art car project that he co-leads to Borderland this summer. He’s been to nine Burning Mans, but enjoyed Borderland and would like to go again. “I found it special and different, its own vibe and spirit type of event. There are so many levels to experience and discover.”
“There are quite a few big sound camps, but also movement camps, sex positive camps, spiritual camps, and camps focused around an art piece,” Buch-Larsen says. “You can stay up and dance all night if that is what you like to do, or you can be an early bird and go to yoga and breathwork.” Like other burns, there’s a place for families called Kidsville.
Buch-Larsen was the last person to respond to my questions about her favorite burn, via a series of voice notes. “When I read the questions, it almost sounds like you’re making a travel guide. I don’t think you can make a travel guide to a burn. It’s like, how can I contribute? That is the question you should ask yourself when you choose to get a membership or a ticket. What are my gifts, and what are my interests, and what are my intentions for this burn?”
