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 4, 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. A smaller event known as the Smoke Creek Gathering has been opened to the public nearby to give the thousands of lucky people a place to participate. HISTORY 1986 to 1989 The annual e...