Squamish is about to get a taste of the legendary Burning Man festival.
Longtime attendee and Squamish resident Craig Davidiuk presents Afterburn, a party at Chances Casino on Saturday (Sept. 18) allowing locals to relive the annual week-long festival in Nevada, which wrapped up Sept. 6.
Davidiuk just returned from his ninth "burn" and decided to give locals a venue to learn more.
"Burning Man is so hard to describe to people," he said. "To say this event has changed my life would be an understatement. It helps re-charge my creative energy whenever I go and I've met many longtime friends."
People from all over the world converge in Nevada's Black Rock Desert at the end of each August and gather for seven days of festivities that conclude with the burning of a giant man statue in the middle of the desert.
People can expect huge art cars with blaring sound systems, yoga classes, circus acts, free snow cones, fire performers and stunning art pieces placed in random places throughout the festival site.
There is literally something for everyone to enjoy and people of all ages attend.
There is no commerce allowed and this is termed the "gift economy".
Burners "gift" each other meals, drinks, jewelry, stickers and art within the pay-it-forward centred community. The festival organizers do operate a coffee shop and ice sales from which the proceeds are donated to the local Gerach, Nevada community.
"It's part music festival, art festival and Utopian experiment," said Davidiuk. "Although the festival hosts around 50,000 people each year, I hope we can create a small slice of the desert in Squamish. "
Burning Man requires all attendees to participate. The attendees are the entertainment.
Davidiuk estimates that over 500 people from the Sea to Sky Corridor attend each year.
"It seems to be the second home for West Coast burners," he said. "When I moved here eight years ago, hardly anyone had heard of Burning Man. Now it seams every second person I meet here has gone or has a friend who has."
Local resident Sarah Weimer even got married at the festival this year to her American sweetheart Eric.
"I really hope we can show people the feeling you get when you gather a whole bunch of happy, creative people for a night of dancing and fun," said Davidiuk.
Advance tickets are available at Trinity Romance and they can be purchased for $10 at the door starting at 8:30 p.m.
Search for "House Haus Afterburn" on Facebook for details. Free shuttles to and from the event are available and the event is expected to sell out.
DJs Craiger, Pitch n Put, Miss Kosmik and Stunning Steve Jui are just a few of the talented people on deck.
There will also be poi and hoop performances and a slide show featuring images of the 2010 Burning Man festival.
