Burning Flipside facts for kids

Burning Flipside (or Flipside) is a special yearly event held in Central Texas, near Austin. It's a place where people come together to create art, express themselves, and build a temporary community. A big part of the event is burning a large art piece called an "effigy."

Flipside is inspired by and connected to Burning Man, a much larger event. In fact, Flipside was the very first "regional" event connected to Burning Man. It lasts for five days during the Memorial Day weekend. While it's smaller than Burning Man, with thousands of participants, everyone helps build a temporary city called Pyropolis. After the event, all the structures in Pyropolis are taken down, and the area is cleaned up. The main effigy and many other art pieces are burned on the last night.

How is Flipside Organized?

Flipside is run by a group of volunteers. It started as a company called Austin Artistic Deconstruction. Later, it became Austin Artistic Reconstruction, and in 2023, it changed to a nonprofit organization called Catalyst Collective. This means it's run for a good cause, not to make money.

What are Flipside's Main Ideas?

Even though Flipside started before Burning Man's "10 Principles" were formally written down, it shares a similar spirit. Flipside has three main ideas that guide everything:

• Accountability: This means everyone is responsible for their own actions and for helping the community.
• Cooperation: People work together to make the event happen and to help each other.
• Self Expression: Everyone is encouraged to be themselves and share their creativity through art, performances, or how they dress.

Because of these ideas, Burning Flipside is seen as an event that truly follows the spirit of Burning Man's principles.

How is Flipside Similar to Burning Man?

Flipside shares many cool features with Burning Man:

• No Selling: You won't find stores or people selling things for money at Flipside. The only thing you can buy is ice! Instead, people use a "gift economy." This means people give things to each other without expecting something specific in return. It's about sharing and generosity.
• Leave No Trace: This is a very important rule. Participants must clean up everything they bring to the event. The goal is to leave the land even cleaner than they found it. It's all about respecting the environment.
• Art Installations: People bring amazing art to Flipside! This includes large sculptures, art that uses fire, and interactive pieces you can touch and explore.
• Theme Camps: Groups of friends create special areas or structures with a fun theme. For example, a camp might have a casino theme where you can play games for donated prizes, not real money.
• Performances: There are many stages and spaces for performances. You can see musicians, theater groups, DJs, fire dancers, and other exciting shows.

How is Flipside Different from Burning Man?

While Flipside and Burning Man are similar, they also have some differences:

• Pyropolis Rangers: Like Burning Man's Rangers, the Pyropolis Rangers help solve problems and keep everyone safe. They wear a special uniform and try to be helpful without getting in the way.
• Location: Flipside is held in a private camp area in the wooded, grassy Texas Hill Country. This is different from the very flat, dusty desert where Burning Man takes place. The Texas Hill Country has creeks, swimming holes, and shady trees, which makes camping more comfortable.
• Effigy Design: At Burning Man, the main effigy (a glowing man) looks similar every year. But at Flipside, the effigy changes completely each time! For example, in 2004, they burned a six-armed Hanuman effigy. In 2005, it was a rocket ship, and in 2006, it was a chalice. This makes each year's burn unique.
• Community Feel: Because Flipside is smaller, it feels like you could meet almost everyone there. It creates a strong sense of a temporary community where everyone is connected.
• Tickets for Organizers: Almost everyone who attends Flipside, even the people who organize it, pays for a ticket. This is different from some other events where organizers might get in for free.

Flipside's Journey Through the Years

The first event, called "Burning Man Texas," happened in June 1998 with about 30 people. The name "Burning Flipside" came about in 1999.

For many years (1998-2005), the event was held at a place called Recreation Plantation (30°07′08″N 98°10′50″W / 30.118830°N 98.180544°W / 30.118830; -98.180544). As it grew, it needed a bigger space. In 2006, Flipside moved to Flat Creek Crossing (30°17′00″N 98°12′20″W / 30.283342°N 98.205479°W / 30.283342; -98.205479). This new location allowed for more growth, but it was also more wild, with cliffs and various wildlife.

In 2010, the event moved to its current home, Apache Pastures, near San Gabriel, Texas and Rockdale, Texas. This location has many pecan trees that offer shade, and participants can explore trails leading to the San Gabriel River, a larger body of water.

The table below shows some of the themes, effigies, and locations from Flipside's history: