Burning Man 2010 is underway, with hedonists from Oregon to Florida and all points in between congregating at a scorched patch of sand in the Black Rock Desert of Northern Nevada to pay homage to counterculture and wild times.
This year's Burning Man celebration takes place Aug. 30-Sept. 6.
The event traces back to 1986, when a group of Silicon Valley executives escaped the pressures of their high-tech jobs by building a bonfire to observe the summer solstice. The event gradually grew over the years as word spread of wild parties and novel countercultural observations in the middle of the nowhere.
Modern Burning Man events feature the erection of Black Rock City, a desert encampment comprising numerous vendors that distribute everything from exotic ethnic dishes to bottled water and beers and wines. Also part of Black Rock City are a number of cliques, focusing on various musical genres and social causes.
Another part of the event are mutant vehicles, which are redesigned cars, motorcycles, bicycles and tricycles designed with an eye toward post-apocalyptic chic. Think Mad Max, but without the Australian accent.
More information on the event can be obtained here.
