Art and Debauchery in Black Rock City

Each year thousands of revelers head to the Black Rock Desert in Nevada for the Burning Man Festival.

The annual gathering has taken on something of a mythical reputation for debauched partying and an alternative lifestyle. From Aug. 28–Sept. 5, you will have the chance to experience it for yourself.

A photo posted by Burning Man (@burningman) on Jul 11, 2016 at 10:58am PDT

At its core, the festival is designed to encourage artistic self-expression and promotes principles such as community cooperation and “leave no trace.” Another core principle is the idea that life inside the festival should not be based on commodities, but rather on gifting.

As such as you will not be expected to pay for drinks, food or other items inside the festival, but rather to trade items you bring with you for other things that you do not have. The idea makes the festival incredibly open and welcoming, with sharing and collaboration seen at a level far removed from that of normal society.

A photo posted by Burning Man (@burningman) on Jul 20, 2016 at 9:52am PDT

The temporary settlement of Black Rock City is made up of thousands of art installations, and music can be heard all around. The focus is on the community rather than big-name artists, but the unique atmosphere attracts more and more attendees every year.

Tickets to Burning Man cost $390 and are available from the festival’s official website. More than 60,000 people are expected to attend the 2016 edition, with Reno the nearest large city to the festival grounds.