Our regional Burning Man prep, Melanie, is swamped with making all the last minute arrangements so asked me to put together this update post for everyone.

Yes, the first-ever official Burning Man Organization-sanctioned regional event in Alaska is on for this weekend, 27-28JUN!

The general overview and philosophy of the event is posted at holosfestival.com/

Directions to Holos:
Trip takes about 2.5 hours from Anchorage Airport. Go North out of Anchorage, through Wasilla, and to mile 114.5 on the Parks Highway. Turn Right onto Suisitna River Road (to the left is Petersville Road-there are clear signs for that) at 1.7 miles in you will turn right onto Bradley Road and follow the road to the end - it will dead end at Boots Bison Ranch and the Holos event. Some landmarks are: at 4.2 miles in from Parks Highway there is a curve to the right and a big clearing, At mile 5 in from Parks Hwy the is a one lane bridge - after that you go up the hill and curve a little to the right and then to the left we will be straight ahead to the left after the barn and the big field, you can't miss it.

Yes, the event is definitely kid-friendly. (Several families I know of are pondering going and are basically just waiting for someone else with kids to say "Yes, we are going" before they jump in as well). There will be at least three teens there I know of, and if the families with rugrats come then a bunch 'o lil ones too.

Tickets purchased before the event are $20 each for adults and teens, kids 12 and under are half price, and lil teensy squirts 'n babes in arms are free. Tickets purchased out at the event itself are $30 each each for adults and teens, kids 12 and under are half price, and lil teensy squirts 'n babes in arms are still free. So far there are folks from Fairbanks and Anchorage as well as out of state (all the way from the east coast!) who have purchased tickets and are coming. The cost of the tickets is mainly covering the required event insurance, some printing costs & materials, and (if we come out in the black rather than the red) rental of a storage unit into which to place gear for next year's event. All the labor is entirely unpaid volunteer; nobody is making a dime for themself from this nonprofit regional community event. Please see the Holos website for the two remaining places and times to make advance ticket purchases from Melanie; I also have five as-yet unsold tickets remaining in my envelope if you want to contact me for those.

Volunteers took up a donated load of firewood in a pickup truck this weekend, if you can bring some extra firewood along with you as well when you come on the 27th then that would be great; there will definitely be a central campfire in a firepit. Depending on rain and forest conditions there may or may not be fires allowed for individual firepits in the camping areas. Please, no fireworks. A band (Snack Pharm) says they are coming to play on the rustic stage nearby the central firepit; a DJ will be playing some goa and house music as well. The Anchorage Shamanic Drumming Circle tribe is gathering at the event, so please bring a 5 gal plastic bucket, cowbell, or something else to beat on if you want to join in the drumming. Greate Arte is planned. Several theme camps with zany fun galore are planned and folks are bringing nifty gifts and services for giving to others as well. Please remember to bring your food, water, bug repellent, and shelter for the event and a couple plastic trash bags in which to take out _all_ your trash at the conclusion; remember, one of the Ten Principles of Burning Man is "Leave no trace" -all ten are listed at the Holos website. The climax of the event is planned for 2pm on Sunday afternoon with camp clean-ups and general exodus to follow at leisure after that time.

Those who attend this first Burning Man event in Alaska shall not only enjoy a great time in the moment but also will have glorious bragging rights forevermore. As (with apologies to Shakespeare) King Henry V said:

This day is call'd the feast of Holos.
S/he that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him/herself at the name of Holos.
S/he that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his/her neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Holos.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his/her tattoos,
And say 'These I had on that first Holos day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But s/he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats s/he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his/her mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Raul and Funky Duck,
Stevendalf and Dorandalf, Daisy and TomTom-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good parent teach his/her child;
And Holos shall ne'er go by in Alaska,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers 'n sisters 'n freaks in general;
For s/he to-day that parties with me Burning Man style
Shall be my bro, be s/he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his/her condition;
And nobles in England, Anchorage, and Fairbanks now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not there at Holos,
And hold their manhoods, tatas, and other parts cheap whiles any speaks
That reveled with us upon that first Holos day!

Burn on!