Feb 23, 2023

See our Covid Policy on the Must Read Page

Violations of the Covid Policy may result in your ejection from Frostburn and jeopardize your ability to attend future events.

Marvin's Mountaintop
39.566587, 79.74715
Greens Run-Long Hollow Rd
Masontown,WV 26542

GPS directions are NOT RECOMMENDED. Use GPS to Masontown, WV then these Printable Directions from Masontown, WV to get to the site safely.

From the highway access is via town roads and finally rough and winding gravel roads. It’s not far by distance but it’s not fast.

Obey all posted signs and speed limits, being stopped for traffic violations adds a lot of time and expense to your trip.

Approximate travel times:
0:45 from Morgantown, WV
1:45 from Pittsburgh, PA
3:15 from Cleveland, OH
3:45 from Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD
5:00 from Richmond, VA and Philadelphia, PA
6:45 from Toronto, ON, Canada, New York, NY, and Asheville NC

Well, how do you want to help?

Frostburn is an all-volunteer, community-sponsored event, so we can use pretty much any assistance you'd like to provide.

Become a Team Lead or volunteer! Beyond that, make a big impact by bringing an art project, art car, theme camp, performance, or seminar that encourages others to interact and participate.

We need greeters to welcome people to the event, a DPW crew to help with set-up and tear-down, experienced EMTs, Rangers and Fire Safety personnel, and more!

Want to contribute in another way? Just let us know!

Yes, tickets are required.

They can be purchased ahead of time on the “Tickets” section of our website, or if available at the gate.

When you check-in at the gate you will be given a site token or ticket which you must have with you at all times.

Although participants of any age are welcome at Frostburn, please use the utmost discretion before you decide to bring children to the event: "radical self-expression" means that somebody might choose to express themselves in a way that your offspring might not be ready to confront!

Campground regulations specify that minors are not permitted without a parent or legal (court-appointed) guardian (parental consent to attend is not enough).

Do not let your child out of your sight; you alone are responsible for your child's safety and behavior at all times!

Sorry; there are no age-based discounts.

Variable.

It's winter time, but it has been as warm as shorts and tee shirt weather in the sun when working and as cold as -18 without windchill.

Come prepared for mild temperatures, freezing temperatures, rain, snow, blizzard, and wind… regardless of what’s coming, you can never pack too many pairs of socks.

No, prices are the same regardless of how many days you participate.

We keep ticket prices as low as possible, with a pay-what-you-can model as Tier I ticketing, so that’s probably your best bet.

Check the ticketing page for the most up-to-date information about Tiered ticket pricing and availability.

Sorry, but there's no way we could afford to host this year's event without everyone's financial commitment.

Each and every person involved must purchase his or her own admission, regardless of other contributions.

Quite frankly, it would help a lot if you could contribute even more than your admission price... so please donate as much time, money, and effort to Frostburn as your heart, schedule, and pocket can afford!

No pets are not allowed at Frostburn.

Leave your furry (or not so furry) family members at home.

Please contact us in advance if you have an ADA Compliant Service Animal by emailing support@frostburn.org.

There is only one main road into the venue.

You must stop and check-in at the Gate when you arrive.

Our friendly volunteers will welcome you and point you in the right direction.

Generally the Gate will be open from noon on Thursday through Saturday evening.

The Gate may not be open 24h/day.

Please see the current event details for specific dates and times.

No, Frostburn is held on private property.

Visting the site may jeopardize our ability to hold the event or your ability to attend.

Limited pre-build (starting the weekend prior) and early access passes (beginning the day before gate opens) will be available and require approved registration.

Please see the current “event details” for specific requirements.

In the case of inclement weather, safety always comes first.

There is no unauthorized access to the site.

Yes, you're welcome to camp in an RV.

We have a level, gravel-packed parking lot near Gate that we recommend you use, but if you are experienced with your vehicle and feel that you can safely drive and park it in the main area we won't stop you, unless site conditions are preventing traffic flow inside the event.

(DPW, Gate Lead or Staff Members have the discretionary power to stop traffic flow at any time during the event.)

There are no hook-ups or electricity.

Remember though: propane can freeze!

Bring space heaters and/or heated blankets for your RV in the event that temperatures get so low that propane heat cannot be used.

Car camping is allowed.

However, depending on conditions restrictions for 4-wheel drive vehicles may be in effect.

There will be non-amplified sound car and RV camping down by Gate.

There are porta-johns located throughout the campsite.

No showers or other facilities unless you bring them.

You may want to bring wet-wipes for a quick cleanup.

Just remember wet wipes don’t go in porta-johns and frozen wet wipes provide a whole different level of clean!

Certainly!

What would a burn be without booze? Remember, though, that the legal drinking age in West Virginia is twenty-one (21) years.

You are responsible for keeping any alcohol you bring out of the hands (and bellies) of minors.

Fireworks and firearms are prohibited.

There are no event or campground regulations prohibiting the use of flamethrowers or other fire-based devices for artistic purposes.

Keep in mind that you alone are completely responsible for the safe operation, storage, and installation of your dangerous art projects and devices.

As in any community, Frostburn participants must obey all local, state and federal laws, including laws applicable to materials and devices used in your art projects.

If you have any questions, seek qualified legal counsel.

No. All vending, advertising and other commercial activity is prohibited at Frostburn.

This includes potable water.

Please support our gift economy by sharing, not selling.

Violators will be ejected without refund.

There are theme camps which provide heated spaces and have fires for people to gather around.

We are also asking attendees and (especially) theme camps to think of creative solutions on how to keep each other warm.

Of course for sleeping, your best friend is a good quality sleeping bag rated -20 or better and a safe camping heater.

The gate is a heated space that can be used for emergencies, but is not a social/gathering spot for attendees.

Note: Covid-19 may reduce the amount of warm shared social spaces. Be prepared.

Absolutely!

We'd love to see more decorative burn barrels make an appearance at the event.

Keeping your barrel off the ground or using portable fire pits are also recommended to reduce burn scars on the Tundra.

Yes, you may have campfires at your camp!

Larger fires may be erected on grassy areas but must not be constructed on paved roadways and parking areas.

Use of a portable fire pit or burn barrel is encouraged to reduce scarring of the tundra.

Be sure to keep your fire a safe distance from people, trees and other objects. You must use wood from the county we are in, due to the Emerald Ash Borer firewood quarantine and our obligation to protect the environment.

Note, that lumber and other building materials are not included in the quarantine, only firewood.

Firewood by the load or cord is available for purchase ahead of time on our website, or by load at the gate.

It might sound cliché, but expect the unexpected!

What happens to you at a burn depends largely on what you and others bring to it.

Unlike your typical festival, the features of a burn are defined by its attendees, which is why we call ourselves "participants."

The burner community has a "NO SPECTATORS" rule, which means that, in a nutshell, if you come to the event expecting to be entertained, you will probably be disappointed.

At a burn, you are the entertainer! You are the artist! You are the performer! Bring an open mind, a willingness to try something new, and a desire to "share the warmth" with some of the most creative people on the planet!

We recommend you read up on Burning Man’s 10 Principles ahead of time.

Firstly, don't worry too much about it!

This isn't the senior prom, where everyone has to show up in a different gown.

What's important is that you express yourself at the event, even if someone else feels the same way.

That said, you can easily reach out to the community in the Unofficial Frostburn Discussion Group.

Feel free to collaborate with like-minded others to create a project that is greater than the sum of its parts!

We suggest checking out or making a post in the Unofficial Frostburn Discussion Group on Facebook.

All works of art are welcome at Frostburn, but participants tend to most appreciate interactive items: those that are animated or can be climbed, drawn upon, or moved.

You do not have to be an established artist; everyone at a burn is encouraged to express themselves artistically—and radically, at that! If you're an experienced artist, try a medium that you've never used before.

Don't be afraid of failure; the important thing is that you try. Unlike other burns, Frostburn does not have an abstract "art theme."

If you need inspiration, think about such concepts as communal warmth, winter adversity, or the juxtaposition of hot and cold. Participants will gather around installations that provide comfort and protection from the elements!

Frostburn was envisioned to give artists the opportunity to experiment with materials and themes that simply aren't feasible in the desert or during the warmer months.

We do support the same Ten Principles as Burning Man and other regional burns, so expect our culture to be similar.

As at Burning Man, all Frostburn participants are expected to obey all applicable laws and event regulations. Campground regulations must also be followed.

Short answer? Nope!

This is a full participation event; if you would like to build and curate a stage for other participants to use, we would love to see it happen!

Amplified sound is permitted during the event and we will do our best to make it 24/7.

No large sound systems will be permitted during the early arrival period. There is no designated "quiet area," so bring earplugs or an RV if you're concerned about quiet time.

Any sound camp that creates a disturbance for our neighbors may be relocated.

As a last resort, we'll have no choice but to shut down repeat offenders.

You can cook anywhere that you will not pose a health or safety hazard (including, but not limited to, oxygen depletion, pollution or unwanted fire).

There are no restrictions on where you can eat, but if you eat in front of anyone else, be sure you have enough to share! ;)

There is no potable water on site, you need to bring everything with you.

Do not drink, cook, clean, or bathe in any water you may find.

Remember Coolers don’t care if they are hot or cold.

Coolers Will:

• Keep your water or other food from freezing.

• Your warm food warm longer.

• Your cold food cold.

You may still need ice depending on the weather or if you want to make a cocktail.

This is an all-volunteer, community sponsored event.

The Pittsburgh-area burner community, lead by a core group we call the Frostburn Planning Team, has rented or donated the infrastructure to provide the basic framework.

However, as Frostburn community members, all participants are expected to contribute to the event's success by donating their time, money, and effort, and by honoring Burning Man’s Ten Principles.

Non-confrontational community mediators called "Rangers" will be in attendance, to help resolve disputes and assist participants with health and safety issues.

In addition to Rangers, Frostburn’s BOD and team leads can be approached with any concerns about public safety and security.

Event staff reserves the right to evict anyone who violates regulations or poses a threat to our participants or venue.

Before calling the police (yes, most cell phones will work at our venue), please try to resolve problems yourself or with our help, unless there is an emergency.

If you're crazy enough to strip down in the middle of February, then we'll have a zone for you.

As long as you're not visible to neighbors or passers-by, there shouldn't be a problem.

You will definitely see nudity at the Polar Bear Plunge!

The nearest grocery store and gas station are in Masontown, WV about 15 minutes from site.

Filling up your gas tank on the way in is always recommended.

The full gamut of stores and services are available in Morgantown, WV about 45 minutes from site.

Only one?

For structures: wind. Frostburn is on top of a mountain on a river valley. Wind, particularly in the evenings, can be strong, sustained, and gusty.

For you: self care. (staying warm, dry, fed, and hydrated)

• Rubber sole slippers to carry with you for no-shoes spaces.

• Easy on/Easy off layers for visiting warm spaces.

• If you are cold, hydrate and eat.

• If you aren’t having a good time, hydrate and eat.

• If your camp mates are grumpy, have them hydrate and eat.

• You will be warmer if you aren’t heating the urine in your bladder. Get up and use the porta-john. While you are at it hydrate and have a protein and fat rich snack.