Conduct is expected to be of the highest standards and must at all times be appropriate for a family setting. The following are strictly prohibited and may result in expulsion from the grounds and/or revocation of ticket:
Don’t forget to check out Ignition NW’s Code of Conduct as well.
The Health and Safety team wants to help you avoid visiting this tent. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz). Hello from your Health and Safety Team, We are so excited to welcome you back to the forest and grateful for your participation in the event. We just have a few tips to help keep you and your…
The Critical Conclave lights the Effigy Burn. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Want to play with fire? Interested in spinning fire before the Effigy burn on Friday night or joining in on the open burns? Let us know! Whether you want to perform in the Critical Conclave or spin at the open burns, all participants who…
There’s no cell reception on-site, so prepare before you go! Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) The 2026 Survival Guide is now available! Get your need-to-know about Critical Northwest here. This pre-event guide will help you prepare for Critical NW. Read this guide to: Brush up on the Ten Principles Find the address Check the new gate…
A fish-eye lens photo of the Hypnodrome theme camp. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Critical Northwest creates a beautiful, vibrant city in the woods, and we want your help to show it off! We’re looking for three volunteer photographers or videographers to work with the Communications team to help document the event. These volunteers will receive…
Keep the lights on with generators and battery back-ups. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) So, you want to plug in to the grid while at Critical Northwest. As has always been the case, power is not guaranteed. Power can be shut down in any or every area of the site without notice, on any given day…
The Dust app in action. Critical Northwest 2026 will be using Dust, an open-source platform for Burning Man regional events. Dust allows participants to view Camp and Art information, find events by day and category, and more. The Dust app works in offline mode and will work well for our event. Simply launch the app before…
Thundercarts transporting passengers. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Need a lift around the city? ThunderCarts helps participants get around Critical NW safely and comfortably. Whether you’re traveling between neighborhoods or simply need assistance getting from point A to point B, our volunteer drivers are ready to help. The Vibrant Pass is this year’s themed name for…
A Burma sign promoting volunteering. (Photo by Hank @espressobuzz) Critical Northwest does not magically appear in the forest. We build it together. Volunteers are the hands and hearts that make the whole thing work. Volunteer shifts are now open, and there are roles for many kinds of humans: greeters, lifters, drivers, sign-placers, radio-listeners, snack-slingers, problem-solvers,…
A botanical art piece growing amongst the ferns. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) The ticket lottery is underway, and we want to take a moment to be fully transparent with the community about how things went, what didn’t go as smoothly as we’d hoped, and what we’re working toward for next year. Quick Glossary: DGS =…
A participant poses in front of the Iron Monkeys armillary. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Say goodbye to the panicked scramble to buy tickets exactly at 7 pm on a weekday! To make the process more fair and less stressful, Critical Northwest will sell tickets via a lottery this year. Simply enroll on Volunteeripate and sign…
Thundercarts ready to roll. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Want to help make this year’s Critical Northwest the best it can be? Apply here today to help fill out the Production team for the following departments: Medical: The Medical team is looking for a lead to work alongside our contract medical services to be the connection…
Burning the memorial burn sculpture. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz). Want to come to Critical Northwest? You’ll need to make sure you’re an Ignition Northwest member. All adult participants (humans over the age of 18) that want to attend Critical NW must be Ignition NW Firestarter members. You can check your membership status via the process…
Gathering around the memorial burn. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Correction: This post previously said the discounted ticket application was for fire performers. This was incorrect. All artists (including fire performers) are welcome to apply for the discounted ticket. We strive to make Critical Northwest accessible for everyone. In an effort to do so, we have…
Volunteers pile wood onto a burn pile during the 2025 work weekends. Do you enjoy the great outdoors, working with your hands, and ensuring that Critical Northwest’s verdant forest home looks its best? We have two work weekends coming up where you can do just that! Come help out on: May 30-31 and June 20-21,…
Volunteers welcoming participants at the gate. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Gate hours are changing. Starting this year, we’ll be closing the gates at 8 pm instead of 10 pm. This update will support participant safety and make arrivals more straightforward. Cars are prohibited from driving around after 8 pm for safety. In the past, this…
The census station is one of the many volunteer opportunities available at Critical NW. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Ignition Northwest passed a new volunteer encouragement policy last week, expanding the time frame for when volunteers can redeem their rewards. Volunteers at Critical NW and Seacompression can earn complimentary, discounted and guaranteed tickets for future events.…
An art installation in front of the Hub at Critical NW 2025 Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) We want your art and theme camps at Critical NW! Apply for placement to bring even more vibrance to the event. The application for theme camps closes March 29. The application for art placement will close Sunday, April 12.…
dust is a guide for burners to find events, camps and art. Critical Northwest 2025 is pleased to announce that we will be providing information to participants via the Dust app! You’ll be able to find the schedule and location of events, theme camps, and art, all pinned to the map of the event. To…
A ranger at Critical Northwest 2024. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) The Ranger Leads want to share some important information about lost children at Critical Northwest. We love that so many families and kids join us, and we take their safety seriously. When a child (under 18) is reported lost, Rangers initiate a full-scale search. This…
Electricity power supply plug and outlet PowerWheels has coordinated with Spacement to understand every theme camp’s level of need. We do our best, but there are always plenty of camps limited to only one electrical outlet. As a result, the PowerWheels team encourages you to practice radical self-reliance! Bring your own extension cords and power…
Census takers waiting for participants to survey. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Last year, Critical Northwest conducted its first census! The Census team collected about 800 surveys from the community of 1200 participants. Census Department with the mission to deepen the understanding of the community’s demographics, preferences, and experiences in order to help inform future production…
Your friendly neighborhood parking volunteers can help you with any questions. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Did you miss out on a parking pass for Critical Northwest this year? Good news, you still have options! No Pass? No Problem If you don’t have a parking pass, you’re still allowed to bring your vehicle into the event…
Volunteers on the Duct Tape team setting off to solve problems. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Volunteers are vital to Critical Northwest. Through the communal effort of every participant, we build a city in the woods. Volunteering has benefits beyond the simple joy of helping the event run smoothly. Your time and energy can earn you…
Parking volunteer holds up two stop signs. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) We’ve heard your questions about parking at Critical NW, so here’s the lowdown! The good news: Our awesome DPW crew has been busy building extra parking The catch: Space is still limited, so we all need to do our part. Carpooling is good for…
You know what isn’t anyone’s favorite part of Critical Northwest? Sitting in your car waiting to get in. It may feel like a fact of life, but there is a way to speed things up: filling out your forms in advance!
Critical NW strives to facilitate all types of participation from people with all levels of ability. Accessibility accommodation requests can be made through the form below, and we’ll make a best effort to find solutions within the constraints of the nature and location of the event.
Would it be Critical Northwest without a fleet of Mutant Vehicles roving around livening up the roads? We’re excited to see your motorized works of art, but we need to know more about them. To bring them to the event, you’ll need to submit your application by July 10. To make it into the field guide, submit by July 1.
A fire performer breathes fire during the Conclave. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Want to spin fire at the Conclave before the Friday night burn or any of the open burns throughout the week of Critical Northwest? Then apply here and let us know! All fire performers and safety volunteers are required to pre-register before the…
We are excited to release this year’s Survival Guide! This brief pre-event guide will prepare you for what to expect at Critical NW. In it, you’ll find plenty of useful information for first-timers and seasoned burners alike.
Sign on the road saying “Welcome Home.” Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Missed the Main Sale? Hit a snag while purchasing your ticket? Typed your credit card information milliseconds slower than your fellow burners? Never fear! The OMG Sale is (almost) here! Tickets may have gone fast in the main sale, but the OMG sale gives…
Ambassador passport stamp for Critical NW 2025 Ambassadors are bringing the Passports back this year! Would you like your camp, art, or production team to join in on the fun? Sign up here! Participating groups will need to provide their own stamp. Stamps are limited to a maximum size of 1 ½ “ x 1…
Sign on the road saying “Welcome to Critical NW.” Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) The Critical Northwest 2025 Main ticket sale begins Wednesday, June 4th at 7 pm! When the tickets drop, you can buy yours here. Some important points to know: We expect tickets to sell out fast, so be ready at 7 pm Everyone…
Two people create their own amphibious audio-visual experience with Frog Technology’s interactive art installation. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Do you have events, workshops, or anything else to submit for listing in the Critical Northwest 2025 Field Guide? Submissions are now open and will run until June 8! The field guide gives everyone at Critical NW…
Participants gather around the memorial fire. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Radical inclusion is important to us. To help make Critical Northwest as open, accessible, and inclusive as we can, we have two opportunities for discounted and subsidized tickets. First, we have discounted tickets available for participants with a financial need as well as artists and…
Volunteers load wood into a burn pile. Photo by Shane. It’s almost time to roll up our sleeves and prep the site for Critical NW 2025! You can sign up to volunteer here. We encourage you to use the same email that you use for your INW Firestarter membership. Once you log into the site,…
A medic offering first aid to an injured person. Working and playing out in the woods, it’s important to remember that safety’s still on the list. The Critical Northwest medical team is looking for volunteers and shift supervisors to help keep everyone safe at upcoming work weekends and beyond. Medical volunteers must be certified in…
A rangers call box attached to a tree. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz). Interested in becoming a ranger or brushing up on your skills? Join the in-person Puget Sound Ranger training scheduled for: Saturday, June 7 Sunday, June 22 This training will cover everything necessary to become a Puget Sound Ranger. Afterwards, you’ll be eligible to…
A Life Support lead giving an update at a leads meeting. Photo by Hank (@espressobuzz) Do you enjoy cooking for large groups of people? Are you passionate about keeping your friends hydrated, caffeinated, and stocked with ice? Can you coordinate groups of volunteers to serve these needs? Join the Critical Northwest production team! We’re looking…
Mark your calendars for this year’s all-hands work weekends! Join us to help prepare the site for Critical Northwest. Earn volunteer hours while helping tidy up and maintain the areas used by our event.
We need skilled volunteers to help us prep Masonic Family Park for Critical Northwest 2025! Do you own a chainsaw and have the skills to use it? Can you operate heavy machinery? Do you have a truck we can load logs into? Do you possess the tools and the bravery to battle blackberry brambles?
Critical Northwest is calling on sculptors to design and build burnable sculptures for this year’s two burn events: the festive Friday night fire conclave and the solemn Saturday night memorial fire. Artists can receive up to $400 in grants for materials, and specific guidelines for size and materials are provided. Apply by April 17!
Critical Northwest offers funding opportunities to support creative projects for artists involved in the regional Burning Man event. Applications are reviewed monthly, and leftover funds will be reallocated in additional review sessions. The goal is to help artists launch projects with early access to financial support, fostering even more innovative works within the community.
This year’s theme for Critical Northwest is Community Garden, where creativity and connection blossom through collective effort and inclusion. In addition, an opt-in SMS messaging system is being introduced for easier access to event updates, allowing participants to receive key information directly via text, reducing reliance on email or social media.
