A Timeline of the Utah Regional Burn:

From Synorgy Event to Element 11.

2025 – Neon Nexus

2024 – Oasis of Dreams

2023 – Enchanted Roots

2022 – Cosmic Carnival

  • Event held June 22-26 (5 days, 4 nights) – added additional day 
  • Population cap increased from 1600 to 1800 due to huge public demand
  • Broke record for largest E11 EVER!
  • $80,000 in art grants awarded – more than twice as much than previous year 
  • Implemented Element 11 Media Team program
  • BoD continues to work well – added two new BoDs

2021 – Phoenix Rises

  • Event held September 23-26 (4 days, 3 nights) – late in year to avoid Covid in early 2021
  • Population cap increased from 1500 to 1600
  • Largest E11 EVER! With substantial presence from visiting out-of-state burners
  • Sweeping new Covid-19 policies worked exceptionally well. Zero known cases of Covid spread from our Event!
  • $33,000 in art grants awarded
  • New smaller BoD, and new Cabinet working well, E11 to continue under this new model
  • E11 hired first employee- CEO to assist BoD & Cabinet, and help develop E11 growth

2020 – Hindsight 2020

  • Scheduled for June 25-28 (4 days, 3 nights)
  • Event cancelled due to Covid
  • State was unable to offer us event permits due to Covid-19 health crisis
  • $10,000 in art grants awarded to our community through partnership with UAA Illuminate
  • Filling multi-year mandate, E11 restructured BoD to reduce size, and created new Cabinet!

2019 – Trip to the Moon

  • Event held June 20-23 (4 days, 3 nights)
  • Attendance: approx. 1400
  • $28,000 in art grants awarded
  • First Event held in June.  Unseasonable polar vortex made event much colder than expected.

2018 – As you Wish

  • Event held July 12-15 (4 days, 3 nights)
  • Event reduced from 5 days to 4 days
  • Attendance: approx. 1300
  • $30,000 in art grants awarded
  • heat wave, fire restrictions, and dust storms inspired BoD to move next year’s event from July to June
  • Co-founder of Burning Man- Larry Harvey- passes away at age of 70

2017 – Orpheum

  • Event held July 12-16 (5 days, 4 nights)
  • Attendance: approx. 1200
  • $34,000 in art grants awarded

2016 – Jackalope Rodeo

  • Event held July 13-17 (5 days, 4 nights)
  • First-ever 5-day event (expanded from 4 days)
  • Attendance: approx. 1400
  • Official event video at:   https://youtu.be/jDjE5Y5181g
  • Aaron Joel Mitchell tragedy at BlackRock

2015 – Under the Stars

  • First event held at Stargazer Ranch in Park Valley Utah
  • Event held July 9-12 (4 days, 3 nights)
  • Attendance: approx. 1300
  • Official event video at:   https://youtu.be/VEgfxJT3APc

2014 – Into the Wild

  • Event held July 10-13 (4 days, 3 nights)
  • Last event held at Bonneville Seabase
  • Eye of the Vortex Temple
  • Attendance: approx. 1200
  • Christopher Wallace tragedy

2013 – Labyrinth – find yourself by getting lost

  • Event held July 11-14 (4 days, 3 nights)
  • Castle Effigy
  • Attendance: approx. 1200
  • $18,000 in art grants awarded
  • Official event video at:   https://youtu.be/ckgRbg_4_cQ

2012 – October

  • Eleventh Annual Decompression held at Mixx.
  • Multiple stages featuring some of Utah’s finest DJs.
  • Performance art and body painting.
  • Featuring Sketch Cabaret, blending figure drawing and performance art.
  • Art cars – Jellyfish 12,000, Glitterbug, Stegobot! Brontobot, Chatterbox, Discotini.

2012 – June

  • Element 11 – Fourteenth Annual Utah Regional Burn held at Seabase.
  • Theme was ‘Ascension’.
  • First year that the BOD and community hosted the event, sold out at 1200 tickets!
  • Friday night burn was supposed to be Valhalla the viking ship. Instead it was the tree of life. Valhalla was gifted to Seabase and E11.
  • Saturday night burns included:  Love, ‘A Triplet of Trilogy, a Trifecta of Triangles, The Pyramid of Primes’ Main Effigy (a collaboration between Derek and Bobby), and the Jugallo Bar.
  • The Elemental Bridge Temple was burned Sunday morning at dawn. It was built by local members of the Church of Elemental Awareness over the course of 4 months prior to the event.
  • 15+ Theme Camps.
  • 15+ Art Installations including stationary and mobile art.
  • Art Installations included: Visionary Art Collective, Ascension Goddess Temple, Recycled Glass Chandelier, Star Bright, Wings of Ascension.
  • Mobile Art included: B-Bot (the friendly robot), Electric Lazy Lounge, Vagabond Theatre Company.
  • Mutant Vehicles: The Amazing Jellyfish from the year 12,000, Sutra the Polar Bear, Chatterbox, Trojan Horse, Pole Mobile.

2012 – January

  • Family-friendly Christmas Tree Burn at Seabase.
  • Potluck prior to the burn in the dive shop.

2011 – November

  • Tenth Annual Decompression held at Pearl Dance Studio in Midvale.
  • Indoor & outdoor stages featuring some of Utah’s finest DJs and live bands.
  • African Drumming & Dance Troupe Performance.
  • Live painting by Aspen Moon, Spencer Barton & Radiance Larabee.
  • Performance Art by Heidi Lynn Butterfly and Chad Ashmont (dance), Colette Rogers (dance), Tristan Spazz Southworth (dance), Sarah Lotus and the Hula Hoopologists (hoop).
  • Chatterbox art car.

2011 – June

  • Element 11 – Thirteenth Annual Utah Regional Burn held at Seabase.
  • Bobby and crew built and burned a 36’ 3-level Pagoda inspired by Japantown in San Francisco. The Pagoda featured an awesome zip line and was made almost entirely of shipping crates and ammo boxes from WW2.
  • The Pineapples built and burned the Friday night effigy – Rapture, a castle with a dragon that was dramatically lit on fire by bow and arrow.
  • First year of the Utah CORE project, the Beehive, was built and burned.
  • Another year of the Juggalo Bar and Burn on Saturday night after the big burn.
  • The pyramid-style, open air Temple was built of approx 90% recycled ammo boxes for the Sunday sunrise burn.
  • Main stage provided by Chance Carlson.

2011 – April

  • First Family Burn, children and families welcome!
  • Free event for local fire and police department members as a way to get to know each other. Started tightening up fire and safety processes as an organization.

2011 – January

  • Family-friendly Christmas Tree Burn at Seabase.
  • Potluck prior to the burn in the dive shop.

2010 – October

  • Ninth Annual Decompression held at Basscamp on Halloween weekend. The event produced in conjunction with the Hive Collective and 50 Hrz Healerz.
  • Multiple stages featuring some of Utah’s finest DJs.
  • Art cars – The Amazing Jellyfish from the year 12,000, The Solar Saucer, Sutra the Polar Bear, Ganesh.
  • Fire, Aerial & Drummer Performances.
  • Giggle Juice Bar & Lounge.
  • Over 800 people in attendance.

2010 – June

  • Element 11 – Twelfth Annual Utah Regional Burn held at Seabase.
  • Theme: Bizarre 11.
  • Bobby and crew  built and burnt the Gabunka Land effigy which had a play land theme and included a 200’ long zip line and a slide. It was approx 34’ tall x 25’ wide and included Do-lab style construction. The pineapples built a 10′ tall pineapple for the top.
  • Roy Dean and the Ogden Boys built and burned the beautiful Phoenix Rising on Friday night.
  • Another year of the Juggalo Bar and Burn on Saturday night after the big burn.
  • Burned the Tempest Taming Temple Sunday morning at dawn. It featured a Hindu Temple Rubbing from Cambodia.
  • The event featured exceptional unicycle and fire performances by Mike Danger.

2010 – January

  • Family-friendly Christmas Tree Burn at Seabase.
  • Theme: Sun of Fire.

2009 – November

  • Eighth Annual Decompression presented by Transformation Beyond Zion and The Utah Arts Alliance held at In The Venue.
  • Multiple stages.
  • Live performance from Markham Sound.
  • Local Dj’s including Illoom.
  • L.A. DJ David Starfire.

2009 – June

  • Element 11 – Eleventh Annual Utah Regional Burn held at Seabase.
  • First year Element 11 was listed as an Official Regional Burn on burningman.com
  • Bobby and crew built and burned a 26’ tall x 25’ wide Mayan Step Temple, aka Accidental Rain Temple. Accidentally built to exact specs and alignment as a Rain Temple. And it worked.
  • After dealing with multiple issues getting the Mayan Step Temple to burn due to the rain, the Pineapples saved the day with their pineapple art installation made of dry sticks and fire-starting materials.
  • Stage by Ganesh with dramatically improved audio capabilities.
  • Featured the Pole Mobile and The Amazing Jellyfish from the year 12,000 art cars.
  • Temple of Transformation burned Sunday morning at dawn – featured life size Tarot card imagery of The Hanged Man, Justice and Temperance.
  • Third year with the Juggalo Bar.
  • Approx 400 people in attendance.

2008 – October

  • Seventh Annual Decompression hosted by BassCamp, an artists collective and sponsored by the Utah Arts Alliance.
  • Live Performance Art by Wisdom.
  • Art Gallery.
  • Live Music featuring Wisebird and others.
  • DJs featuring Jluvv + guests.
  • Live art by the visiting artist Norton Wisdom.
  • BurnerBar.
  • Art Gallery and Expo.
  • Fashion Show.
  • Approx 380 people in attendance.

2008 – May 30 – June 1

  • Element 11 – Tenth Annual Utah Regional Burn held at Seabase.
  • Sponsored by VIVID Community Arts Foundation.
  • Event theme ‘Elephunky’ inspired by Ganesh art car.
  • Bobby and crew built and burned Ganesh, a 48’ long x 28’ wide elephant made of over 400 pallets with a fire breathing trunk, spinning Merkaba star, and a 10’ stilter-friendly doorway.
  • The event featured a parade of Stilters in elephant costumes.
  • Last minute collaboration and arch built and burned on Friday night.
  • Second year of the Juggalo Bar and Burn on Saturday night after the big burn.
  • Great Basin Ganesh Temple built in a dome.
  • Approx 680 in attendance.

2007 – December

  • Sixth Annual Solstice Burn.
  • Built and burned an 18’ sun sculpture dedicated to the planet Saturn.
  • Burned Sagan’s Birthday Cake, as well as sculptures by Andy, Chuck of Arabia, and Jacob/Leigh.
  • Finished off first batch of ammo boxes at Seabase in Chuck’s fire.
  • Approx 80 people in attendance.

2007 – October

  • Sixth Annual Decompression held at the New Utah Arts Alliance Warehouse near Downtown Salt Lake City.
  • DJ’s and sound system supplied by CofEA.
  • Featured art pieces: Dining Room Table built by Jacob Seitz & Anti-M’s Municipal Ordinance Violation by Mr. & Mrs. Bucky.
  • Also Featured the Jellyfish 12,000 art car and Vince’s Vac Bed.
  • Bar Reality provided liquid refreshments.
  • Approx 320 people in attendance.

2007 – June

  • Element 11 – Ninth Annual Utah Regional Burn held at Seabase.
  • Event theme was The Emerald City.
  • Bobby and crew built a 30’ stylized version of the Emerald City from the Wizard of Oz.
  • Terrific pre-burn show with over 30 participants.
  • Burned the Tower of Babel on Friday night.
  • Built and burned The Tornadoes sculpture by Trona Fairie on Saturday at dusk.
  • Burned The Cat in the Hat, which featured a slide off of it, on Saturday night after the big burn.
  • First year of the Juggalo Bar and Burn on Saturday night after the big burn.
  • 100 Man Burn featuring 100 figures made of sticks and burlap by Jared Bouck was burned on Saturday night after the big burn.
  • Burned The Temple of 13 Monkeys, which was built out of wooden ammo boxes, on Sunday at dawn.
  • Performances by Tasi and Nocturnal Safari.
  • Featured a Wizard of Oz themed Wedding.
  • Approx 650 people in attendance.

2006 – December

  • Fifth Annual Winter Solstice Burn.
  • Built and burned a 20’ Sun art piece.
  • Great Spiral of Offering piece was built and burned by Randy.
  • Healing Rune built and burned by Flaming Joe.
  • Metal sculpture donated to the event by Shannon.
  • Music and sound system provided by CofEA.
  • Approx 60 people in attendance.

2006 – October

  • Fifth Annual Utah Regional Decompression held in a warehouse in North Salt Lake.
  • DJ’s and sound system provided by CofEA.
  • Featured Hope and Fear interactive sculpture art piece.
  • Featured Barbitar art piece that was a carnival style fortune-telling machine.
  • Bar Reality made an appearance.
  • Approx 200 people in attendance.

2006 – June

  • Element 11 – Eighth Annual Utah Regional Burn held at Bonneville Seabase.
  • First year with new event name, no longer named Synorgy.
  • Theme for the event was The Wasteland.
  • Bobby and crew built and burned a 33’ Oil Tower.
  • Amazing pre-burn show with 60+ participants.
  • Burned ‘Wasteland Reform School’ on Friday night.
  • ‘Monkey Pod Tree’ was built and burned by Pimpsyrup.
  • Giant Hand sculpture built and burned by Fritz.
  • Temple of Seized and Wasted Opportunities burned Sunday morning at dawn.
  • Approx 500 people in attendance.

2005 – December

  • Fourth Annual Winter Solstice Burn.
  • Built and burned a 16’ 3-dimensional Sun.
  • Featured the Burn Hive by Auntie M and a cool Spire sculpture built and burned by Wanderlust Steve.
  • Approx 100 people in attendance.

2005 – October

  • 4th Annual Utah Regional Decompression held at the Orbit Café.
  • Art displays by members of the Utah Burn Community.
  • Outdoor art installation by Jordan 10-E.
  • DJ’s and a Poi Performance by The Incendiary Circus.
  • Approx 125 people in attendance.

2005 – June

  • Synorgy – Seventh Annual Utah Regional Burn held at Bonneville Seabase.
  • Theme for the event was Peter Pan’s Neverland.
  • Built and burned a 20’ version of Neverland Island.
  • Conclave put on a choreographed performance with the West African drummers to the Event theme.
  • Performance by LA band and BRC favorites ‘The Mutaytor’.
  • ‘Caged Tinker Bell Exposed’ sculpture of Tinkerbell as a caged dancer was burned on Friday night.
  • Multiple theme camps and art installations, including the ‘Tinkerbell Tea House’ and ‘Strait On Till Morning’ dance club.
  • Approx 500 people in attendance.

2004 – December

  • Third Annual Winter Solstice Burn.
  • Built and burned an 18’ Pueblo Native American Sun.
  • Clive Schwank Karaoke Crew built and burned a wooden temple.
  • Chuck of Arabia built a house structure the same day as the event and burned it a few hours later.
  • Approx 50 people in attendance.

2004 – October

  • Third Annual Utah Regional Decompression held at the Orbit Café.
  • Featuring the musical stylings of local DJ’s, fantastic finger foods, and a slide show of previous events.
  • Local Poi Troupe fire show in the parking lot.

2004 – June

  • Synorgy – Sixth Annual Utah Regional Burn held at Bonneville Seabase.
  • Theme for the event was the children’s game Candy Land.
  • Built and burned a 30’ Gingerbread Man.
  • Burned The Pyramid on Friday evening.
  • Club Delicious and Fire Muse Circus make their debut at Synergy.
  • Street Legal Theatre and a fashion show performed on the Whale Bone Stage.
  • Appearance by Charlie Smith’s Tunnel of Transformation at the event courtesy of a generous grant by the Black Rock Arts Foundation.
  • Multiple theme camps and art installations.
  • Approx 320 people in attendance.

2003 – December

  • Second Annual Winter Solstice Burn.
  • Built and burned a 12’ Sun Sculpture.
  • Repo Man’s Free-range Wicker Pet Ranch made an appearance.
  • Karaoke was enjoyed by all.
  • Approx 80 people in attendance.

2003 – October

  • Second Annual Utah Regional Decompression held at Trasa Urban Art’s Gallery.
  • Performances by several local bands and DJ’s.
  • Fire sculpture featured outside at the gallery.

2003 – June

  • Synorgy – Fifth Annual Utah Regional Burn held at Bonneville Seabase.
  • First themed event: Alice’s Adventures in Scuba Land.
  • Burned a 25’ Rabbit sculpture.
  • Burned a 6’ Piñata Totem Pole after the Rabbit.
  • Alice in Wonderland themed play performed by ‘Street Legal Theatre’.
  • First year with several large theme camps.
  • Derek Dyer’s ‘World’s Largest Disco Ball’ hung from a crane and gained acclaim from all participants.
  • Approx 240 people in attendance.

2002 – December

  • First Winter Solstice Burn.
  • Burned the WoMan that was built for the Fourth Annual Utah Regional Burn in August but could not be burned due to the statewide burn ban.
  • Performance by San Francisco based band ‘F-Space’.
  • First appearance by Clive Schwank’s Champagne Ballroom and Karaoke Lounge.
  • Approx 60 people in attendance.

2002 – October

  • First Utah Regional Decompression held at Trasa Urban Art Gallery.
  • Several bands and some art to boot.

2002 – August

  • Synorgy – Fourth Annual Utah Regional Burn. Originally scheduled for July, later postponed to the first weekend of August.
  • Built a 15’ ‘WoMan’ – one side male, one side female.
  • Could not burn the sculpture due to a statewide burn ban. Held our ‘non-burn’ on private property near the Bonneville Salt Flats.
  • First year that included larger scale art installations.
  • Performance by local band ‘Listen’.
  • Approx 120 people in attendance.

2001 – June

  • Synorgy – Third Annual Utah Regional Burn held at the Sun Tunnels for the final time.
  • Built a 15’ man and 10’ woman, which were burned at the conclusion of the event.
  • Another great performance by local favorites ‘Street Legal Theatre’ and other local musicians.
  • Went for a dip in Rabbit Springs.
  • Approx 90 people in attendance.

2000 – June

  • Synorgy – Second Annual Utah Regional Burn at the Sun Tunnels.
  • Built and burned a 15’ man.
  • Performances by ‘Street Legal Theatre’ and local musicians, including ‘Listen’ prior to the burn.
  • Approx 80 people in attendance.

1999 – June

  • Synorgy – First Utah Regional Burn held in West Utah.
  • Built a 20’ Man, which was burned at the conclusion of the event.
  • ‘Desert at the Sun Tunnels’ environmental art installation.
  • Visited nearby Rabbit Springs.
  • Enjoyed a play by local troupe ‘Street Legal Theatre’ and musical performance by local group ‘Listen’.
  • Approx 70 people in attendance.

1998 – June

  • Burner gathering on Stansbury Island.
  • Burned a rope outline of the man.
  • 8 people in attendance.