Adhering to its theme this year, “Absurdia,” the 14th annual unSCruz gathering packed the San Benito County Fairgrounds April 30-May 3.
From colorful acrobatic exhibitions and dazzling eateries, to obscure towering sculpture constructs and crazy roving vehicles, the night and day extravaganza offered guests—many who stayed overnight in tents and RVs—food and drink, music, art, dance, games and plenty of absurdity.
Organizers say unSCruz celebrates being a radically inclusive regional Burning Man event that “strives to be a safe space for all. We welcome all genders, expressions, orientations, races, ethnicities, creeds, faiths (or no faith), lifestyle choices, etc. We do not tolerate any hate speech or behavior that demeans, dehumanizes, ridicules or alienates others.”
While sizzling up a huge batch of French fries at Camp Wok This Way, Genevieve Spring said, “This is my very first (Burning Man) event. It’s beautiful to be here. It kind of feels like a present waiting to be unwrapped.
“The reason I chose the name Spring is because it is like a season of uninterrupted growth being here. And we’re staying busy with a big crowd—I just love it.”
unSCruz mostly takes its shape and direction from the principles of Burning Man, “a community and global cultural movement,” that began in 1986 in San Francisco.
As evening fell on May 1, participants turned up the heat with scads of flame-throwing gadgets lighting up the sky as a near full moon crept into the picture. A centerpiece of the event in recent years is El Pulpo Magnifico, a 28-foot tall fire breathing metal octopus on wheels. As it rolls along bellowing music, the flames pulse along with the beat, much to the crowd’s delight.
While activities spill over the course of each day, nightlife takes on a grander mission with many of the contraptions and vehicles boasting their vast array of lighted decorations and natural gas propelled flame-throwing fixtures.
The festivities culminated Saturday night, with the traditional burning of a wood effigy in the fairgrounds arena.
