Burning Man Festival 25th Year

 Burning Man Festival 25th Year- Burning Man is a week-long annual event held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, in the United States. The event starts on the Monday before, and ends on the day of, the American Labor Day holiday (August 29 to September 5, 2011). It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy on Saturday evening. The event is described by many participants as an experiment in community, radical self-expression, and radical self-reliance. Burning Man is organized by Black Rock City, LLC  In 2010, 51,515 people attended Burning Man. 2011 attendance was capped at 50,000 participants and the event sold out on July 24th.

The annual event now known as Burning Man began as a bonfire ritual on the summer solstice in The annual event now known as Burning Man began as a bonfire ritual on the summer solstice in 1986 when Larry Harvey, Jerry James, and a few friends met on Baker Beach in San Francisco and burned a 9-foot (2.7-meter) wooden man as well as a smaller wooden dog. Harvey has described his inspiration for burning these effigies as a spontaneous act of radical self-expression.
You might not be able to make it to the Nevada desert Black Rock Desert, NV for this year's Burning Man festival but we have the next best thing for you. Here is a look back and some of the most compelling  history from the past 25 years of the mysterious, yet revered event.

1986 Burning Man

 Height of Man: 8 feet
Location: Baker Beach, San Francisco
Participants: 20

1987 Burning Man

Height of Man: 20 feet
Location: Baker Beach
Participants: 80 

1988 Burning Man

Height of Man: 30 feet
Location: Baker Beach
Participants: 150-200

1989 Burning Man

 Height of Man: 40 feet
Location: Baker Beach
Participants: 300+

1990 Burning Man

 Height of Man: 40 feet
Location: Baker Beach (Burn Location: Black Rock Desert, Nevada)
Participants: 800

1991 Burning Man

 Height of Man: 40 feet
Location: Black Rock Desert
Participants: 250

1992 Burning Man

 Height of Man: 40 feet
Location: Black Rock Desert
Participants: 600 attendees

1993 Burning Man

Height of Man: 40 feet
Location: Black Rock Desert
Participants: 1,000

1994 Burning Man

 Height of Man: 40 feet
Location: Black Rock Desert
Participants: 2,000

1995 Burning Man : 1995 height of man: 40 feet

This is not the kind of event to which one wears pearl necklace and peep-toe pumps. At Burning Man, attendees tend to be a bit more in touch with (literally) the surroundings. Take this woman (pictured at the 1995 event) as an example. If you've never been, the event's "First Timer's Guide"  offers this warning: "It's not for the faint of heart." Nudity and body paint are the norm. +burning man first timer's guide.

1995 height of man: 40 feet .

Location: Black Rock Desert 

Participants: 4,000.

1997 Burning Man : +1997 height of man: 50 feet

A man getting pulled along the desert sands in 1997 (pictured) is just one of several unusual sights and modes of transportation at Burning Man. 

+1997 height of man: 50 feet 

Location: Hualapai Playa 

Participants: 10,000.

Burning Man fashion : burning man 1997 10000 attendance

The people pictured right were competing in a fashion show at the 1997 event. But anywhere else they could have been competing in air guitar, karaoke or even best Halloween costumes. Burning man 1997 10000 attendance

1997 was the year that almost wasn't for Burning Man. The event moved from the Black Rock Desert to Hualapai flat and the Fly Ranch. To find more about this move read the Spring Newsletter article " Back to the Beach." There were political problems with Washoe County, and a fee for fire and sheriff's protection was levied at $350,000. 

1999 Burning Man : +1999 height of man: 40 feet

Each year, a man actually burns – a large, statue of a man, but a man nonetheless.  Pictured right is the "man" to be burned in 1999.

+1999 height of man: 40 feet

Location: Black Rock Desert 

Participants: 23,000

Theme: Wheel of Time. Street signs incorporate the theme of time.

2003 Burning Man : +2003 height of man: 32 feet

In other fire news, lots of fire blowers perform here, including this one in 2003.+2003 height of man: 32 feet 

Height of Man: 32 feet, standing upon a 47-foot, pyramidal Temple
Location: Black Rock Desert
Population: 30,586

2003 Burning Man ban : +2003 burning man dogs not permitted

The Burning Man is pretty cool to see. Here's he's all aglow in the 2003 desert dusk. +2003 burning man dogs not permitted

Burning Man dancers

Of course there's dancing at Burning Man. Some may be nude, fully clothed or scantily clad, such as the woman pictured at the 2003 event.

2003 Burning Man : +2003 height of man: 32 feet

Art comes in many forms at Burning Man. Wouldn't you agree this man's 2003 makeup job is an art form? Even his name is interesting: Shaman Cat. +2003 height of man: 32 feet

2003 Burning Man sandstorm : 2003 burning man Leave No Trace event in the world

Being in the middle of the desert tends to up the likelihood of a standstorm. In 2003, the man pictured stood in the shape of a cross during one. The event set a record this year. 2003 burning man Leave No Trace event in the world

2004 Burning Man

Height of Man: 40 feet, standing upon a 40 foot geodesic dome
Location: Black Rock Desert
Participants: Participants: 35,664

2005 Burning Man : +2005 height of man: 40 feet

Some might describe the environment as circus-like, what with sights like men on stilts and such, pictured right in 2005. +2005 height of man: 40 feet

Height of Man: 40 feet, standing (and rotating) upon a 32-foot tall Funhouse containing an interactive maze.
Location: Black Rock Desert
Participants: Saturday: 35,567
Theme: Psyche – The Conscious, Subconscious & Unconscious.

Burning Man 'art cars' : burning man 2005 department of mutant vehicles

Just when you thought you'd seen every kind of car possible, we bring you the banana car from 2005. Burning man 2005 department of mutant vehicles

2006 Burning Man : +2006 height of man: 40 feet

Pre-burn Burning Man is always a fun site. Here he is at sunrise in 2006. +2006 height of man: 40 feet. He was also standing atop a 32-foot tall platform that contained an interactive maze to boot.

Burning Man aerial views : +burning man 2006 nation's largest Special Recreation Permit

The aerial view of the festival looks like the beginnings of a crop circle. Here's a view from 2006. +burning man 2006 nation's largest Special Recreation Permit

2007 Burning Man : +2007 height of man: 40 feet

Burning Man art : +burning man 2007 the green man

The theme for art installations seems to be: Go big or go home. Take this one made of trucks in 2007. +burning man 2007 the green man

2008 Burning Man : +2008 height of man: 40 feet

Again in the go-big-or-go-home theme, here's a 2008 art installation set on fire – intentionally. +2008 height of man: 40 feet

2011 Burning Man : 2011 burning man rights of passage

Here's "the man" being set up for the event for the 2011 event. 2011 burning man rights of passage