Burning Man 2023: With no estimate of reopening time, Burners party in the rain and mud

BLACK ROCK CITY, Nevada — Burning Man has closed its entrance and exits gates and told its approximately 73,000 attendees to conserve food, fuel and water as continuing rains make driving off the Black Rock Desert near-impossible.

There was no estimated time for reopening, and thousands of attendees are facing the potential of missing flights, failing to return rental cars or failing to return to work Tuesday. The event is set to officially end Monday but many people begin leaving Saturday night or Sunday.

"I think it's just a waiting game now," said Max Spooner, who walked through the city with a mattress strapped to his back. Spooner said his tent got wet on Friday night and he retrieved dry bedding from his car via a long, slippery walk. "Survival mode, here we go."

The Bureau of Land Management released a statement Saturday, saying Burning Man entry is now closed for good:

"Officials from BLM and the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office have closed ingress to the Burning Man event effective immediately and for the remainder of the event. Participants inbound for the event should turn around and head home.

Rain over the last 24 hours has created a situation that required a full stop of vehicle movement on the playa. More rain is expected over the next few days and conditions are not expected to improve enough to allow vehicles to enter the playa."

The BLM is the federal agency overseeing the public land that Burning Man is held on.

The closures and order to remain in shelter come as the event was supposed to reach its zenith on Saturday night with the burning of the giant wooden Man effigy towering over the temporary city. All vehicle traffic within the encampment has been halted, including servicing for the thousands of portable toilets that make the event possible. Organizers have also begun rationing ice sales.

Many attendees appeared to remain in good spirits, playing beer pong in the muddy streets or splashing in the standing water. Techno continued echoing around the encampment, and spontaneous dance parties kept breaking out. Walking was almost impossible Saturday morning, but started to improve as the ground began to dry. Then it began raining again.

Given the conditions, which include forecast rain Sunday, it appears unlikely anyone will be permitted to drive out soon. Burning Man officials have not provided a comprehensive update on conditions, departure timing or even the multiple art burns scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Longtime attendees said they can't remember a burn with this much rain.

Earlier, organizers banned vehicle traffic from the roads Friday afternoon and kept the exit gates closed as Saturday morning. Even walking was treacherous as thick, slimy mud clung to shoes and anything else it touched.

Organizers on Friday and Saturday warned attendees to conserve their food and water, indicating the closures could be lengthy. The Burning Man radio station known as BMIR and a social media account have been providing updates to attendees.

Cell phone service is virtually nonexistent at the event, and only a few people have access to satellite Internet for updates. Burning Man attendees are expected to be completely self-sufficient for the duration of their stay, bringing in all the food, water and shelter they need.

Dawn brought a growing realization for attendees that they might not be going home as planned, given rain forecast for later Saturday into Sunday. And while Saturday morning is usually full of anticipation for the Man effigy burn, this Saturday arrived quietly. 

Only a few people braved the muddy roads, trying to find their way back to their camps after a night of partying elsewhere.

After using the portable toilets, Angelov Franco of Colombia hiked up the garbage bags on his feet and duck-walked across the muddy street toward his camp. This is his 13th burn, he said, and he's never seen anything like the mud. Still, he wasn't going to complain.

"This is going to be fun," he said. "Hopefully the sun will come out after the rain."

The poor weather came just as attendance and activities were beginning to peak, and forced the cancellation of multiple large scale art burns Friday night.

“No driving is permitted on playa except for emergency vehicles,” event organizers said in a 5 a.m. statement. “If you are in (Black Rock City), please shelter in place and stay safe."

They added separately: “If you are in BRC, conserve food and water, shelter in a warm space.”

MORE COVERAGE:Burning Man is filled with wild art, sights and nudity. Some people bring their kids.

On Saturday night attendees are supposed to watch the Man effigy that looms over the encampment burn and explode with fireworks, followed Sunday by the burning of the Temple of the Heart.

The event officially ends Monday in a mass departure known as Exodus.

Before the event officially started Aug. 27, organizers closed the gates to early arrivals for several days after the remnants of Hurricane Hillary swamped the area.