It’s a long-awaited return to burn.
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Burning Man, the weeklong art pop-up running through Sept. 5 in the Nevada desert, is back and as wild as ever.
Striking photos of Black Rock City, the “temporary metropolis” also known as “the playa” about 100 miles northwest of Reno, show a bustling Burner scene with packs of motor homes, towering sculptures evocative of the dystopian film “Mad Max” and quirky car installations.
Started by a group of San Francisco artists in 1986, Burning Man moved to the desert in 1991, where it’s become a destination for bohemians and other free spirits interested in an autonomous social experiment. In recent years, Silicon Valley elites and celebrities have turned the desert party into a yearly pilgrimage, traveling there by private jet.
Satellite images show the airstrip where the monied Burners park their flying whips. In 2017, The Post reported that attendees were spending thousands of dollars on elaborate costumes, some of which could have been plucked from the QAnon shaman’s wardrobe.
The last official Burning Man took place in 2019 and drew about 80,000 people, but in 2021 revelers staged an unofficial version with about 20,000 taking part.
Beyond the art and freedom, the event is guided by “radical self-expression,” which in years past has meant a lot of sex and nudity.
Since 2003, they have housed “The Orgy Dome” where “all couples and moresomes can escape the dust and heat of Black Rock City,” according to organizers. The air-conditioned space has been an integral part of the festivities and a place for attendees to revel in the free-love ethos of Burning Man.
And with COVID and now Monkeypox a potential buzzkill to the proceedings, organizers are offering tips on how to remain healthy and respect others’ personal spaces while getting naughty or just offering a hug.
“Consent is queen! And it’s not just about sex,” the site reads. “Ask permission before offering a hug or touching someone else, whether you know them or not. Respect the fact that others may want more space than usual this year. There could be a wide range of comfort levels on playa in 2022.”