Greetings lovely party humans!

If you have never been to a burn before and you are wondering what it’s all about, then you are looking in the right place!

What is DeFrost?

DeFrost is a small event (max 40 people) that is held at the same venue as BridgeCom for one day only, and with many of the same people involved. DeFrost is similarly inspired by (but not affiliated to) Burning Man. This includes the culture, community and principles. It’s a community created by its members, to allow people to express their creativity, be authentic, expand their horizons, learn, share and enjoy spending time together. It's hard to explain why this community is important to people, read the principles and come along to DeFrost to find out more.

What will happen?

The site is on a small farm in the north of Cambridge, and we will be making available a hot tub and jacuzzi for you to defrost yourselves in (clothing optional). We will also have a sheltered area for music and events/workshops etc. We also benefit from various decorations that are part of the farm. Beyond that the scope of this event will depend entirely on how many tickets we sell and how much we can raise from that.

What other things do I need to know?

There will be running water and a portaloo on site. DeFrost is a strictly vegan event, it’s important that this is respected by all attendees. The site is accessible by car or by bike or on foot.

The burner principle of decommodification means there will be no food vans, stalls selling things or any way to spend money once you have got your ticket.

Obviously you will need to make arrangements for preparing any food you bring, this includes a cup and bowl/plate/cutlery if you intend to use it. Your own cup is a vital part of burner culture, and very helpful if you split a can with someone for example (and please do bring drinks to share 🙂)

If you are planning to stay over you will need to make sure you bring a tent and any other things you might need like a toothbrush or a change of clothes - radical self reliance is another principle. If you haven’t already please read our event Code of Conduct here!

How can I get involved?

Firstly, come along, Radical Self Expression, Immediacy and Participation are three Burner Principles you can embody just by showing up.

Gifting and Communal Effort are also Burner Principles, here are a few ways a first time burner can contribute:
  • Volunteer for some shifts, see the signup spreadsheet for more information, in particular roles like welcoming people at the entrance or being a ranger are a great way to meet a few new people but you can choose anything from the options.
  • Sign up to help build or strike the site, there will be lots of opportunities to make things go smoothly either side of the main event.
  • Make some art - part of the fun of burns is the amazing creativity on show, made either before or during the event, contact us if you want to get involved in this defrost.cambridge@gmail.com
  • Add something to the program - a talk, performance, workshop or DJ set, whatever you want to share. Education and Radical Inclusion are burner principles too, and DeFrost is a welcoming and safe space to get out there and share your love of whatever it is!

How does it work?

Our commitment to the Burner Principles, quite a bit of effort and lots of enthusiasm. DeFrost was set up by a small group of Burners, no one is getting paid and we are all putting a contribution in to make the event happen. Every single person involved is doing it for free, sharing their time and skills. The more you put in, the more you get out 🙂
See you at DeFrost!

Consent

Consent is the 11th 0th principle for burners. A quick reminder that we practise the F.I.R.E.S. framework here:

Freely given

(Assumed or coerced consent is not consent)


Informed

(Consent requries knowing what's involved)


Reversible

(Can be withdrawn at any time)


Enthusiastic

(It must be a yes, not a maybe)


Specific

(Consent to one thing does not mean yes to another)

These are the principles of consent that guide us to engage in healthy conduct with our fellow party-goers. Uniting us in mutual appreciation and respect of the values and boundaries of others and ourselves. Be an ambassador for these values by looking out for one another. We can co-create the perfect event experience together, if we encourage each other to be perceptive of potential violations of boundaries that might be happening around us. If you know someone, or even if you don’t, we all get that vibe from people sometimes. And if you think they might be in trouble, we encourage you to check in with that person. Even if you’ve never met someone before, sometimes our senses can tell us something’s not right. If you’re not sure, it might be best to ask, or report your concerns to a ranger or site lead on shift, rather than ignore it entirely. We have no specific consent team this burn, but come find a lead if you have any concerns and feel unsure how to respond. If we collaborate on co-creating a safe, consent-conscious space, we will give ourselves the freedom to indulge in radical expressionism. The more active bystanders we have, the safer and more harmonious this event will be, and nurtures a culture of peace and understanding for events to come.

Warmest thanks for reading.