The gates of Burning Man 2023 were formally opened on Monday (Sept. 4), granting festival goers the opportunity to depart the event in the distant Nevada desert and restoring the atmosphere to its typical state. The Burning Man 2023 festival officially ended Monday evening with the burning of “the man”, possibly being the most somber Burning Man to date, leaving the boggy Nevada desert littered with muddy trails and acres of garbage.
What happened at the Burning Man 2023 festival?
The Burning Man 2023 event that started on August 27, 2023, had around 73,000 participants. These participants were unable to leave the area once the entrance/exit gate was closed due to the downpour which made the roads sticky with mud and almost impossible to traverse.
Since its beginning in 1986 on a San Francisco beach, the annual event has attracted close to 80,000 performers, creators, and activists to camp and enjoy progressive performances.
On Friday, the site became a marshy mess due to the half-inch of rainfall. Those who were present were warned against trying to leave due to the blocked paths. Many attendees confessed to feeling a bit of fear when contemplating the lack of food and water if they were to be stuck there.
Monday morning saw the sun beaming down on Black Rock City, the camps of the event being taken apart by those still present. Cars had already left from the main gate and the service road over the past day, and several rides were still seen around despite being mired in the mud before the roads were dried. Tow trucks were available to help.
The organizers advised the attendees to be careful and respect the staff helping to make the departure process easier.
“Be patient when you leave Gate Road and respect the Burning Man staff who work hard to make the Exodus experience as smooth and safe as possible.”
The desert roads were filled with cars as thousands of people attempted to exit the area on Monday. It was suggested that they delay their departure till the following day if they could. Additionally, they were warned against walking away from the event, as several celebrities, such as Chris Rock, Austin Butler, and Diplo, had already left the festival on foot.
Chris Rock & DJ Diplo Hitchhiked A Ride With A Fan At Burning Man 2023
Despite the flood, people were encouraged to safely store their food and water supplies, while the majority stayed in place. Nonetheless, some individuals were able to get to the closest town either by foot or on wheels.
Thomas Wesley Pentz, aka Diplo, shared a video on his Instagram Saturday night of comedian Chris Rock and himself in the back of a fan’s pickup truck. The two celeb stars were attending the Burning Man 2023 festival. He said that they had trekked six miles through a muddy area before being offered a lift.
He shared the video with a caption which read,
“I literally spent hours walking along the side of the road with my thumb out.”
Diplo wore ski glasses to shield his eyes from the mud. He can be seen removing his glasses to reveal the mud stuck on his nose and forehead. On the other hand, comedian Chris Rock was seen interacting with other passengers and expressing his desire to have a cold brew. Rock was possibly entertaining the other passengers with his comedic shenanigans.
A Philadelphia photographer, Rebecca Barger, arrived at the desert on August 26 and was determined to reach the conclusion of her maiden Burning Man 2023 experience.
She shared how people were very helpful and shared their vans and food with each other at the festival.
“Everyone just adjusted, sharing RVs to sleep and offering food and coffee. I danced for hours in foot-deep clay to great DJs.”
