Burning Man How-Tos, Costumes, Bikes, and Tips & Tricks
Burning Man, the famous weeklong festival of music, art, free expression, and much more in the Nevada desert, is just around the corner. Whether you're a Burning Man veteran, a first-timer, or someone who is interested from afar, here's a list of some Instructables that will help you prepare and make your unique Burning Man experience even better.
General Advice
Find Your Fashion
Bikes and the Like
Shelter and Shade
Fire, Flying Things, and Other Fun
If you're going to Burning Man this year, we hope this helps and have a fun, safe, and exciting experience!
General Advice
 | TimAnderson's Tips by TimAnderson Learn all about Burning Man and easy, creative ways to keep yourself prepared and safe from TimAnderson's documentation of his trip to the festival last year. |
 | HalcyonPink's Tips by HalcyonPink In this video and the follow-up, Burning Man veteran HalcyonPink gives you his advice. |
Find Your Fashion
 | Fire Skirt by la The popular fire skirt uses EL wire to give your clothes some personality. |
 | Angel Wings by fairywingsandthings If your attire of choice requires wings, you're well covered: you could try these angel wings or a different version . |
 | Color-Changing Scarf by enlighted You can't go wrong with clothes that light up. |
 | Electric Umbrella by sockmaster You can't go wrong with accessories that light up, either. |
Bikes and the Like
 | Wobble Bike by dan For a fun twist on a regular bike, convert it into a wobble bike that you have to steer from both the back and the front. |
 | Kite-Powered Land Proa by aerohydro Derived from a water proa Instructable, this vehicle transplants the idea to land--ideal for flat, dry terrain like the playa. |
 | Tall Bike by TimAnderson Get an aerial view of all the action while you bike along with this tall bike that anyone can build. . |
 | Chopper Bicycle by KoolKat Few bike designs are as functional and attention-grabbing as the chopper, and you can follow these directions to upgrade your old bike, chopper style. |
 | Furry Pink Bike by HalcyonPink Burning Man is all about being creative and expressing yourself--and your bike is a perfect item to deck out in your own personal style. |
 | LED Bike Wheel Images by ladyada Transform your bike wheels with LEDs that you can program to glow to form various patterns, images, and designs . |
Shelter and Shade
 | Parachute Shade Structure by benjcarson This Burning Man-tested structure will help protect you from the raw elements of the playa. |
 | Rebar Tent Stakes by tk1314 Normal tent stakes won't be too effective at Burning Man, but these made from rebar prevent impaling and will hold your tent firmly. |
 | Portable Yurt by TimAnderson This version of a yurt, a Mongolian tent-like structure, is portable and can be assembled and disassembled easily. |
Fire, Flying Things, and Other Fun
 | Firebreathing by Tetranitrate A combination of fire, art, and fun, you can light up the desert night with firebreathing tricks. |
 | Cincinnati Fire Kite by stasterisk Kiting is a very popular activity at Burning Man, and you can join in with a this kite that combines flying and fire together into a night-time spectacle. |
 | Fire Staff by Stone Light both ends of the staff and spin to create your own patterns. |
 | Candle-Powered Hot Air Balloon by ewilhelm A simple combination of birthday candles, painter's plastic, and balsa wood can turn into a functional hot air balloon. |
 | Homemade Poi by Hydra Learn to make homemade practice poi that can be used anywhere--and check out other Instructables on how to spin poi and other DIY poi designs. |
If you're going to Burning Man this year, we hope this helps and have a fun, safe, and exciting experience!
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Sep 21, 2008. 2:34 PMhighvoltage
says:
Aren't there several, like one in each area? I live in Utah, is there one there? It looks like an awesome event and I'd love to go!
Mar 15, 2009. 4:25 AMLynne Bruning
says:
Synergy is outside SaltLake.
burns are EVERYWHERE! From South Africa to NZ to Ohio to
Nowhere is Spain.
go here to find your regional burn:
http://regionals.burningman.com/index.html
burns are EVERYWHERE! From South Africa to NZ to Ohio to
Nowhere is Spain.
go here to find your regional burn:
http://regionals.burningman.com/index.html
Mar 15, 2009. 4:22 AMLynne Bruning
says:
there are burns all over the world.Smaller attendance so less of everything including travel time. go here to find your regional burn:
http://regionals.burningman.com/index.html
http://regionals.burningman.com/index.html
Aug 27, 2008. 7:14 AMkokopelli_fella
says:
Drove there from chicago last year, first time there. Can't go this or next year cuz of the timetable for classes, very sad. :( However the year after that I'll be a massage therapist, very popular there. If you go to the hotel, don't forget to raid the minibar. They never check it. lol
Aug 20, 2008. 6:11 PMLabot2001
says:
Aug 22, 2008. 7:19 PMnabzaf
says:
well it won't be a run'n joke if you weren't carrying scissors. I forgot what number are we on?!?!?!?!?!
Aug 23, 2008. 10:28 AMJellyWoo
says:
omg, how long is this list going to be? 1 year later... me googolplex. lol!
Sep 8, 2008. 4:55 PMcantthinkof bettername
says:
Im going to reply to a comment before the numbers just so they'll be wrong.
Aug 24, 2008. 11:14 PMdowngrade
says:
BAH! Let this creep up on me, no way of getting any time off now, oh well, next year I will be prepared.
I still really want to go to this. Maybe I could talk some people into going next year.
Instructables and then Burning Man? weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Aug 20, 2008. 7:52 PMbumpus
says:
I would think your parents wouldn't let either of us go at our current age, as there are a few nudists running around, but I have seen a few pictures with whole families there..
Aug 22, 2008. 7:04 PMJellyWoo
says:
yeah, my parents wouldn't let me go if there were a bunch of nude people running around.
Aug 21, 2008. 8:37 PMcowtipper97
says:
I was wanting to go to one of these some time. When reading about it I laughed the way it said that clothes are optional.
Aug 21, 2008. 7:28 AMLabot2001
says:
Well, my parents wouldn't want me to go no matter how old I was ;-) I was just wondering, say you wanted to go by yourself, how old do you have to be? I'd figure probably 18 or 21 or something like that...
Aug 21, 2008. 1:20 PMGrey_Wolfe
says:
I believe it's 18, probably give out stamps or wrist bands for those who are going to be getting drinks.
It's not like BM sells alcohol. You either bring your own, or get it from other people. But attendees aren't allowed to sell things.
Aug 23, 2008. 9:55 AMcrunchybunny
says:
what? wrist bands? This is not the default reality! The drinks are free and everyone is a walking piece of art. anyone who walks up to the "Bar" in a camp gets a drink. the median age is probably 30 but If you're young and even slightly in shape there'll be men and women aplenty to befriend. Plus there is are other treats on the playa that are far more interesting than a bottle of warm beer.
Aug 21, 2008. 3:43 PMjahreed
says:
there are no age limits but I think under a certain age you have to be accompanied by an adult. Sometimes people bring their babys but IMO that's a risky idea becuase the environment is pretty harsh.
AS far as wristbands/stamps...there is NO type of that going around...on a given day/night there might 500+ camps openly serving alcohol and they may not serve you if they think you are not of age but they certainly wouldn't "card" you...it's a pretty anarchic culture...in a great way.
www.burningman.orgwww.burningman.org
(check the pics)
AS far as wristbands/stamps...there is NO type of that going around...on a given day/night there might 500+ camps openly serving alcohol and they may not serve you if they think you are not of age but they certainly wouldn't "card" you...it's a pretty anarchic culture...in a great way.
www.burningman.orgwww.burningman.org
(check the pics)
Aug 23, 2008. 6:06 PMmcnewby
says:
TICKETS: Violation of these rules, or violent anti-social behavior, can result in revocation of your ticket and ejection from the event without refund. Our admission Gate will be open at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 25th. No one under 18 will be admitted without a parent or guardian. IMPORTANT FOR 2008: NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE BOX OFFICE OF THE EVENT. Participants must purchase tickets ahead of time, prior to arriving at the event site. Will Call closes on Saturday, August 30, at 12:00 noon.
I plan on trying to go between high school and college...if timing permits.
Aug 22, 2008. 12:09 PMcrunchybunny
says:
been there twice! It is a bit expensive if you want to be comfy. Got my ticket and an RV for this year. Can't wait to go home!!!!!
Aug 22, 2008. 7:05 PMJellyWoo
says:
seem's a little troublesome to get comftorble. isn't there a hotel anywhere close by?
Hah! No, there's no hotel. Everything you want to have out there you need to bring it yourself in the beginning. You can buy ice and coffee,but that's it. As for doing your business there are portapotties. After that, you're on your own, but if you really need help almost anyone there will be willing to lend a hand.
Aug 23, 2008. 10:31 AMJellyWoo
says:
seems kind of like a burden to take everything you need.
Aug 21, 2008. 9:20 PMtiihaytch
says:
Don't let being on the wrong side of the world stop you :) I went in '06 and I still can't wait to go again (wait til I have money again). go to www.burningman.com
heh... I live in Reno which usually serves as the stop point before everyone goes to burning man, so I get to see all the cool busses and vans. Also the week of and before burning man, walmart has absolutely nothing in it at all. The bikes and food are all gone its like the whole entire store is empty. well except for crowds of people.
Aug 20, 2008. 4:12 PMshammallamaman
says:
I would love to go to this, but i don't know much about it :'(
Aug 20, 2008. 12:29 PMbumpus
says:
Awesome! I would love to make it to one of the festivals..
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