The first Burn in the Forest was organized in 2002 by a group of burners from Vancouver who wanted to create an outdoor camping event that would be guided by the 10 principles of Burning Man. Originally held on the picturesque shore of the Squamish River, the festival moved to the Squamish Valley Campground in 2009 and then to the Cheam Fishing Village in 2015. That year, it was renamed Burn in the Fraser but in 2016 the organizers reinstated the festival under its initial name.
The ten principles of Burn in the Forest are modeled after those of Burning Man. They are radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, participation, civic responsibility, immediacy (here and now), and leaving no trace. Together they help build a creative, collaborative and cash-free community where anyone is welcome and respected as long as they respect the ten principles and other burners.
The Burn in the Forest Festival aims to create a Temporary Autonomous Zone where people may safely engage in new and exciting experiences without being judged. It is a self-sufficient temporary community where people can exchange ideas, experiences and impressions, build new friendships and strengthen existing ones.
Burn in the Forest is coordinated by the Greater Vancouver Interactive Arts Society (GVIAS), but its program is created by about 1,200 participants who dedicate their effort and time to the things they are passionate about. It features theme camps, interactive art, music and theatrical performance, workshops and masterclasses, fire performance, and more. Keep in mind that theme camps and art installation need to register well in advance.
Photo: burningman.org
