The Burning Man festival is held annually in Black Rock City, a temporary city erected in the Black Rock Desert in northwestern Nevada, about 100 miles (160 km) north-northeast of Reno. This location has been the festival's site since 1990. The event takes place on federal land in Pershing County, Nevada, and is centered on the dry lake bed known as the playa

. The festival typically occurs during the week leading up to and including Labor Day weekend, with the symbolic burning of the large wooden effigy ("the Man") happening on the Saturday evening before Labor Day

. In summary:

• Location: Black Rock City in the Black Rock Desert, northwestern Nevada
• Distance: About 100 miles north-northeast of Reno, Nevada
• County: Pershing County
• Timing: Week leading up to and including Labor Day weekend
• Notable event: Burning of the Man on the Saturday before Labor Day

This desert location is a key part of the festival's identity, emphasizing community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance in a remote, temporary city setting