Burning Man festival canceled for 1st time ever amid virus concerns
RENO, Nevada -- Nevada’s death toll from the coronavirus has topped over 100 as the sweeping impacts of the outbreak across the state now include cancellation of the annual Burning Man festival.
The state’s coronavirus website as of this weekend listed 2,700 cases statewide with 102 deaths, but the health districts for metro Las Vegas and metro Reno City together reported 106 deaths.
Burning Man Project officials announced cancellation of the annual event that was scheduled to be held Aug. 30 to Sept. 7 in the northern Nevada desert.
Organizers of Burning Man, a lifestyle and entertainment gathering that typically attracts 80,000 people, said the cancellation was “in the interest of the health and well-being of our community.”
“After much listening, discussion, and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision not to build Black Rock City in 2020,” organizers said in an online journal post. “Given the painful reality of COVID-19, one of the greatest global challenges of our lifetimes, we believe this is the right thing to do. Yes, we are heartbroken. We know you are too.“
Organizers said they were committed to providing refunds for tickets already purchased. However, they asked purchasers to consider foregoing refunds because the organization already faces layoffs, pay cuts and other belt-tightening measures.
