Updates
✨ New this year: Volunteers who contribute 12 or more hours during the event will receive a directed ticket to next year’s burn.
Volunteer Roles: Join Our Team
We currently have several key volunteer roles open at SideBurn. Whether you’re interested in on-site coordination, technical support, or creative contributions, there’s a place for you to get involved and help make SideBurn a success.
Key Dates
- May 20–24 — SideBurn 2027
Be a Maker of Magic
Be a maker of magic. SideBurn comes together as a temporary city once a year in Ontario, and like any other city, it takes a lot of talented and passionate individuals to ensure it runs safely, efficiently, and to everyone’s benefit.
Aside from event security and first aid, we are an entirely volunteer-run experience; those working, greeting you at the gate, and monitoring the event for safety are all helping shape your Regional Burn by bringing their engaged, helpful selves to their role. Our ability to run this event depends on volunteers showing up. You are SideBurn’s lifeblood, and through your efforts, you get to truly embody the Burning Man principles of Communal Effort and Participation.
How to Volunteer at SideBurn
Once you purchase your ticket, you’ll get a link to the volunteer portal. From there, you can explore departments, browse shifts, and find your place in the city.
SideBurn believes in the One Burner, One Shift philosophy, where many hands make light work. If you’re part of this city, you’re part of what makes it work. Every participant is encouraged to give a bit of their time, whether that’s welcoming folks at the gate, supporting Rangers, or helping keep our shared spaces running smoothly. It’s not about obligation; it’s about contribution, connection, and co-creating the experience together. When we each show up for one shift, we all get to enjoy a stronger, more vibrant SideBurn.
Theme camps bring incredible energy to SideBurn — and we ask that every theme camp participant also take on at least one event volunteer shift. Participation isn’t just encouraged here; it’s what holds this whole thing together.
Questions? Want to get more involved? Reach out at, volunteer@sideburn.ca.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Tips for a Smooth Shift
Make sure to check in at HIVE before your shift! Plan to arrive 15–20 minutes early to sign in and meet your department lead. Also, take a moment to review SideBurn’s volunteering policies—they help ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive experience for everyone.
Departments
Event Volunteer Shifts — Open to All Ticket Holders
The Art team offers pre-event and on-site volunteering. Before the event, they handle art grant submissions, work with selected teams, and manage logistics. On-site, they provide services like artist check-in, setup assistance, safety checks, and documentation.
Positions Available
There are currently no positions available.
City Department handles the event layout and overall experience, with teams covering sound, placement, on-site placement, and theme camps. They ensure the city is well-organized, accessible, sound rules are enforced, camps are set up properly, and theme camps have what they need.
Positions Available
There are currently no positions available.
Communications manages our website, newsletters, social media, content, and design.
Positions Available
There are currently no positions available.
DPW is responsible for the event’s infrastructure, including transporting, setting up, and tearing down signage, lighting, barriers, and providing support to participants and theme camps. We need hard workers with various skills—whether you’re a master carpenter, painter, or someone who enjoys using power tools. DPW is the first on-site and last to leave, working pre- and post-event. During the event, we assist with tasks like traffic control, deliveries, refuelling, and repairs. Quick thinking and problem-solving are essential. Accessibility Factors: These roles involve walking, climbing, lifting, using hand tools, problem solving, following instructions and is not family friendly.
Positions Available
There are currently no positions available.
FAST is a group of experienced fire artists, safety volunteers, and trained professionals dedicated to ensuring safe fire use in art, performances, burns, and flame effects. Look for us in red FIRE SAFETY shirts, on-site before and during the event, based at the Community Safety Headquarters. Some roles require special Fire Safety Training, which must be added to your volunteer account before signing up.
Positions Available
There are currently no positions available.
The Equity department is officially responsible for reducing socioeconomic and physical barriers to participation, ensuring that the event remains fundamentally grounded in the Burning Man principle of Radical Inclusion.
Positions Available
Flow is one of the first teams you will meet and they see you off during exodus. We manage parking, the entry gate, radios and your smooth entry and exit from the event.
Positions Available
There are currently no positions available.
HIVE is SideBurn’s people- and site-facing team. It covers the volunteer experience, the HQ tent, Centre Camp, and roaming culture and engagement.
Positions Available
Safety teams are vital to the event. Some of these roles require special training.
Positions Available
While we create SideBurn to unplug from regular life, our technology team supports the tools and infrastructure needed to issue tickets, sign up volunteers, and allow the entire team to communicate efficiently.
Positions Available
There are currently no positions available.
To sign up for any of the available volunteer positions listed above, simply follow the link sent to you after purchasing your ticket to access the volunteer portal. Questions? Feel free to email us at volunteer@sideburn.ca.
Questions about volunteering? Request more information.
This form is for those interested in volunteering and seeking more information. It is not used to sign up for event shifts. Once you purchase a ticket, you’ll receive a link to our volunteer portal to select your shift.
