Like the cities of old, Black Rock City is secured by a perimeter fence, and participants enter through a gate. You must have a ticket to enter Black Rock City. The Gate opens in early August for pre-event traffic (only people with early entry passes are allowed in prior to the first day of the event), then opens for all participants at 12:01 am on the Sunday prior to the Man Burn, and is open 24 hours a day throughout the event.

What To Expect At The Gate

Here’s a summary of the process:

1. On your way to Burning Man, please drive safely and be considerate while passing through local towns. Speeding, parking on highway shoulders, and unsafe driving are safety hazards and could threaten the future of the event. We are guests in their community, so be extra courteous and obey the law.
2. Plan your arrival so that you show up at the Gate after opening. We cannot allow people who show up early to wait in town (see #1 above).
3. During peak traffic periods we will be controlling traffic with highway flaggers along Hwy 447 before the Gerlach gas station. Past experience has shown that long lines at the gas station have caused unsafe conditions. Watch for signs and flaggers on the road; they are fellow Burning Man volunteers helping to make your arrival safer! Please fill up in Fernley/Wadsworth (or other areas) and help reduce the traffic backup in Gerlach.
4. As you approach the Burning Man entrance from the highway, tune your radio to 95.1 FM for Gate Advisory Radio Station! We will be broadcasting up to date info about the entry process. Not sure why there is a backup or how to get to will call? Tune in!
5. Drive no more than 5-10mph on Gate Road! We have volunteers working out there and the dust can make it hard for you to see them. Speeding also causes ruts in the road, and that’s a bummer for your suspension.
6. We place signs along your approach to the Gate. They have helpful information, please read them.
7. Stay in your vehicle. We cannot emphasize that enough. Don’t wander along the road looking for will call or exploring the desert. If you need to go to will call, your entire vehicle should go with you. Don’t risk losing your friends.
8. About 1/4 mile before you reach the Gate you will come to a set of small kiosks we call the “Apex”. During busy times there will be Gate staff here to direct you. There is an empty zone just after the Apex that will allow vehicles in any lane to turn into the Will Call lot.
9. Upon reaching the Gate your tickets will be torn and your car searched. Plan ahead for the search and know what items are prohibited.
10. After completing the Gate process we will send you down the road to the Greeters, who will give you a map, answer your questions, and give you a hug if you’re lucky.

In-and-Out Passes

In-and-out passes are available at the gate (per person). You must have your pass, and your ticket stub, to return to the event.

What happens if you show up at the Gate with no ticket?

There will be no tickets sold at the event. In light of that, it’s more important than ever that our community knows and understands Burning Man’s Gate policy. Here’s what you need to know:

• There are no tickets for sale at the Gate. You will be turned away and not allowed entry if you show up without a ticket.
• If you are giving someone a ride to Burning Man, including ride shares and hitchhikers, please be sure they have a ticket or you may end up driving back to Reno to drop them off. Leaving them at the Gate or in Gerlach is not an option. Washoe County Sheriff will be watching out for people loitering in or around Gerlach.
• Harboring stowaways or assisting people sneaking in is as bad as sneaking in yourself. Any vehicle with stowaways or assisting people sneaking in will have the whole vehicle refused entry with no refund of tickets.
• Anyone caught trying to sneak in to the event or causing a disruption at the Gate or Box Office is subject to citation, fine, and arrest by the BLM.

Finally, we expect long lines coming into the event and going out during Exodus, so arriving or leaving at non-peak times — and exercising patience — is advised.

Volunteer For The Gate

To find out more about volunteering for the gate, click here.

Are you great at trivia? Consider yourself an ‘Infomaniac’? Come be a know-it-all at Playa Info, and get all the insider info on all things Black Rock City under our shade in the city center at Esplanade and 5:45! At Playa Info, we handle all sorts of critical stuff that helps make our home in the desert run smoothly, and help educate and advance the principles and culture of the Burning Man project. 

Playa Info is a great place to meet Burners from all over the world. We are Black Rock City’s only official Lost & Found service and Locksmith/Tow operation. Our amazing digital directory helps people find camps and events, burners find other burners, riders find ride-shares, and people find lost stuff. On our bulletin boards you’ll find event lists including The Rockstar Librarian Music Guide, the WhatWhereWhen Guide, and more! 

We have gigs for all kinds of folks – whether you’re uber-experienced and want to answer questions and provide information/directions as one of our famous Oracles or do the same thing on-the-move as a Playa Info Ambassador, or have fewer years of BRC time under your belt and want to wrangle lines (or something in between)! If your plans involve coming early or staying late, we always need extra hands for build and especially for strike/restoration. We have a place for you at Playa Info.

Playa Info is open daily during the event from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and also some evening hours mid-week. Shifts with Playa Info are 5 hours long and feature breaks and snacks and shade and most importantly, a great vibe in the center of the action! 

We’d love to have you join our team, please fill out a volunteer information form and select Playa Info as your area of interest. NOTE: you’ll need to create–and be signed into–a Burner Profile in order to proceed.

If you need more information, send an email to playainfo@burningman.org 

Volunteers are what make BRC great – hop aboard the train…we can’t wait to meet you!

What’s more precious than gold in the desert? Ice, of course!

Arctica and the Ice Caps are the only source for ice in Black Rock City. Arctica and the Ice Caps have what it takes to keep your food, beverages, and heads cool during the long hot desert days, as well as putting an icy tinkle in your evening cocktails. Expanded to the 3 o’clock portal (Ice Cubed) and 9 o’clock portal (Ice-9) and our original spot in Center Camp, we offer ice to Burning Man participants from 9am to 6pm Monday through Sunday of the event, and from 9am until Noon on Labor Day.

Pre-event, ice is available at two locations. Center Camp Arctica: Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6 pm. Ice 9 (9:00 & G): Saturday and Sunday pre-event from noon to 6 pm.

If you’re up for staying cool during the day, while working toward a good cause, check out Arctica’s volunteering opportunities.

Media Mecca is Black Rock City’s press room. At the Mecca, members of the media can find out what’s going on, recharge batteries and file stories. We can point you in the direction of participants from your region, connect you with artists and take you on a tour of the major art installations. We will not baby you, coddle you, suggest story ideas or drive you around on a golf cart.

Media Mecca, conveniently located next to the ARTery at Esplanade & 6:30, is open daily from 10 a.m. (ish) to 5 p.m (ish).

When you arrive, tell the greeters you’re looking for Media Mecca. We’re conveniently located next to the ARTery at Esplanade & 6:30. We’ll get your oriented, give you a cold beverage (if you’re nice to us) and provide a place to hang out when the temperature tops 100 degrees.

Please note: If you are a member of the press, you must visit the Press & Media section and register in advance of the event. Reporters, photographers and video crews who do not connect with us prior to the event will be taken into the desert, staked to the ground and left to fry in the sun.

If you are interested in wearing the coveted silver cowboy hat for the Media Team, check out our volunteer page.

GREETERS HAVE MORE FUN!

The greeters are the face of the event and form a newcomer’s first impression of Black Rock City. Their mission is to orient and educate arriving citizens while spreading wit, whimsy and infectious enthusiasm to carloads of people.

Greeters explain the “Don’t let it hit the ground!” principle, clarify the concept of Community, and answer all questions in offbeat yet helpful (or endearingly hostile) ways. Enlightening new and returning participants alike is a vital role.

If you are interested in volunteering to be a greeter, click here to find out what we need.

The Center Camp neighborhood is the thriving downtown center of Black Rock City! Completely redesigned in the spirit of urban renewal in 2024, the entire area will feel quite different. From the street design leading into the center to the plaza itself, which has been placed with dynamic theme camps with dynamic interactivity. The Canopy is the crown of the city center, the world’s largest tensile structure — a circular acre of shade with all sorts of wildly engaging activities 24/7. The Canopy is a must-experience smorgasbord of participatory pranks and shenanigans — all ages morning activities, immersive afternoon adventures, tasty beverages, nightly special guest performances, and a plethora of strange into the so-late-it’s-early weirding hours. It’s the perfect place to meet up with your friends (and maybe make some new ones) to flavor your night on the town.

Want to learn more? Check out the Frequently Uttered Questions here!

Contribute Your Skills and Playfulness to The Canopy!

Calling all Volunteers, Contributors & Artists

The heart of Black Rock City comes to life each year thanks to the teamwork of many dedicated volunteers who plan, create, install decor, and support other Black Rock Citizens in bringing their vivid visions, immersive shticks, and interactive antics to life. While the Temple and the Man invite a release as they burn, the heart asks us what we wish to cherish, nourish, and bring with us on our quest. The heart of the city will ignite, distill, define, and cultivate the very essence of Black Rock City. 

VOLUNTEER

We are looking for volunteers to support this vibrant community space. The vibe of this tribe has always had its special kind of cohesion. The culture of The Canopy Volunteer teams is one of family and community. It’s a great place to find your place amongst other creative, fun, and hard-working humans who will likely become dear friends before you know it.

To get in on this amazing experience of Communal Effort fill out the Volunteer Questionnaire, accessible via your Burner Profile.

What Are the Teams that Create The Canopy?

SWIFT (aka Shenanigans Wrangling & Instigation Facilitation Team)

If you enjoy helping Black Rock Citizens bring their weird and wacky activations into the space, SWIFT (aka Shenanigans Wrangling & Instigation Facilitation Team) may be your dream team. SWIFT supports all the wonders that await the participants under the Central Canopy.

Decor

Calling all designers, builders, carpenters, crochet artists, stitchers, furniture builders, painters, and multi-talented hands-on creators! Work with the skilled decor team to transform The Canopy into a magical, whimsical environment to house raucous and relaxing activities throughout Burn Week. Most of the work is done during Build Week before the Gate opens and after the event when we pack up all the pretty things and Leave No Trace. 

Stage Crew

Make sure the show goes on! From stage building, lighting, and amplifying the new, larger, Canopy stage before the gates open, this crew supports the myriad merrymakers by MCing, mixing sound, and stage managing during Burn Week. Bring your stagehand experience to The Canopy and work with some of the most skilled and interesting humans and support the incredible talent to grace the stage!

Center Camp Guardians

During Build Week, Strike, and overnight during Burn Week, Guardians wander The Canopy enjoying the offerings, chatting with the people, and making sure things are safe and sound. 

*Note: All volunteers get involved in The Canopy space because they are committed to a shared collaborative project that ignites the cultural heart of Black Rock City. First-year volunteers do not get free tickets in exchange for volunteering — but if you get involved and kick ass, you may gain access to future tickets and opportunities to contribute more deeply to The Canopy team.

To get in on this amazing experience of Communal Effort fill out the Volunteer Questionnaire, accessible via your Burner Profile.

CONTRIBUTE YOUR MAGIC! 

Musicians, Magicians, and Marching Bands. Soothsayers, Shtick players, and Side-Show Acts. Flow Artists, Freestylists, and Fantastic Fabricators. Comedians, Cacophonists, Curators of Experience. The Canopy hosts special immersive takeover events, has one central stage for scheduled performances, and features an art gallery, crafternoon sessions, a 24/7 tea party, guest bar service, and several curiosity nooks. Participants are invited to scratch below the surface; there may even be some meta-shenanigans at play — think scavenger hunts, side quests, riddles, and mythic lore galore — ‘cause who doesn’t love a little live-action role-playing in their day? You might end up donning a character that sticks!

Please fill out the Collaboration Interest Form to share your offering!

The stage hosts an eclectic mix of offerings such as improvisational comedy, jazz, DJ throwdowns, and world-music performances, and encourages community gathering, engagement, connection, and relaxation. At night, the stage will come alive with epic musical sets paired with a different themed party every night of the week: maximum cohesion and complementary synergy!

Alcove spaces can host micro experiences designed for 2 to 5 people ranging from bad advice booths to healing arts, board games, or intellectually stimulating conversations. 

The Canopy space also hosts large participatory and performance groups, dancers, orchestras, and jugglers. The Canopy is open 24/7 for Event Week. Performers interested in showing off their talents under The Canopy should arrange for a pre-scheduled performance slot during the event. But HOW?

Start by filling out this Collaboration Interest Form! There is a tremendous team of volunteers ready to help get your performance booked. 

• ****Note to Booking Agents – All artists are required to be radically self reliant, which means purchasing their own ticket to the event as well as providing all necessities to survive in Black Rock City. The team does not work with Booking Agents, have your clients contact us directly.

Performance Musts

Your performance must be all original work. Cover bands, cover songs, or samples subject to licensing cannot be played. This is the space to celebrate YOUR music, YOUR words, YOUR art.

If you want to perform copyrighted material, you MUST secure the rights yourself by contacting the copyright holder/agent and providing written permission to perform such material to the performance coordinator IN ADVANCE of landing on-playa.

Something Else?

There are a plethora of performance styles that aren’t listed here. Got something a little different? Use THIS FORM to let us know what you have in mind.

No Fire under The Canopy!

The Canopy structure is not a safe space for performances that include fire. Lots of things get burned on playa, but not The Canopy. 

BRING YOUR ART!

The Center Camp Plaza and The Canopy host many of Black Rock City’s diverse artists. The Canopy is one of the most visited locations on playa and it’s a great place for YOU to display your art for the community to interact with and enjoy throughout the event. There is a curated gallery space for hangable artwork and plenty of space — slightly more protected than the open playa — for all types of installations and expressions.

• Please read ALL the guidelines CAREFULLY. Only submissions adhering to the guidelines will be accepted. Any submissions that fall outside the guidelines or are incomplete cannot be considered.
• Submit your art project here.

We can’t wait to see how your magic contributes to The Canopy!

The Black Rock Rangers are the core infrastructure for the community during the event. Their strength comes from the diversity of backgrounds and experiences; they are communicators, medics, firefighters and concerned citizens. Rangers are the mediators of public safety and providers of information.

The Black Rock Rangers were founded by Danger Ranger in 1992, and are modeled after the Texas Rangers. The key to the organization’s success is that the Rangers are not the “other” guys: they are the participants, and work throughout the city and its perimeters to ensure the collective survival of the community. They respond to the ever-changing environment, and address situations within our community that would otherwise require outside intervention. By encouraging and facilitating communication, the Rangers promote awareness of potential hazards, from sunstroke to tent fires to bad weather.

For more information on this unique organization, visit rangers.burningman.com or email rangers@burningman.com.

To learn more about what sorts of skills and requirements are needed to volunteer as a ranger, visit the Volunteer page.