All About Load-In

Table Of Contents
  1. Please read through ALL the info on this page!
  2. About
  3. When & Where
  4. Load-In Timeslots
  5. Order of Operations
  6. Label ALL of your bins and other items!
  7. Volunteers Needed!
  8. Can our camp load as a group? What if our playa arrival times are different?
  9. Transferring Container Space
  10. What if I can't be there during my assigned timeslot?
  11. What if I can't make it in person?
  12. How long will it take?

Please read through ALL the info on this page!

About

Container Load-In is the start of everyone’s burn. It’s a party, just with a lot of hard work thrown in… Pretend it like it’s Black Rock City, and let’s help each other out! Bring sunscreen, gloves, water or gatorade for yourself and your crew. If you’re able to, bring some drinks or snacks to share. “Gifts” (e.g. beer, ice, cold drinks, etc.) are also accepted, though it won’t get you special treatment!

PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME!!! Preferably at the beginning of your timeslot! If you do not arrive on time, then your bins will be in the way of others who arrive before you. It will be a nuisance for the earlier arrivals, and your bins will get climbed over, trampled on, moved around, etc and you will not have made any new friends. 

When & Where

Sunday August 3, 2024, starting at 8am – see below for timeslots
Liberty Harbor Marina. 15 Marin Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07302
FB Load-In Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/

Load-In Timeslots

Load-In Timeslots are based on your playa arrival date. The earlier you arrive on playa, the later your time-slot and the closer to the doors your bins will be in the container.

Playa Arrival Date Load-In Time
Burn Week Monday, 8/25 and later 08:00 – 09:00
Sunday, 8/24 09:00 – 10:30
Build Week Saturday, 8/2310:30 – 12:00
Friday, 8/22 12:00 – 13:00
Thursday, 8/2113:00 – 14:00
Wednesday, 8/20 14:00 – 15:00
Tuesday, 8/1915:00 – 16:00
Monday, 8/18

If your playa arrival time has changed, simply come to load-in during the timeslot that corresponds to your correct playa arrival!

Container doors will be CLOSED AND LOCKED at 16:00, and the containers will start to get moved to the train yard. Do not arrive past this time!

Order of Operations

  • Park
  • Unload your items & move car out of load-out area
  • Check in
  • Have items measured
  • Load your items onto the container you’re directed to use
  • Have a drink and help others

Label ALL of your bins and other items!

It is mandatory to label your bins and all your other items with your name, camp, email address and phone number! Try and make your bins look unique with tape, spray paint or some other method, as there will be A LOT of yellow tops on each container.

You MUST affix at least one full size copy of your QR code to the outside of *each* of your bins. Print out the PDF that was included in your confirmation email. The QR codes will make it easy for us to identify your bins when you come pick them up on Playa.

 Be mindful that paper labels will easily tear off, so we recommend completely covering the QR code with durable, waterproof tape (stuck to a clean, dust-free area). “Crystal Clear Gorilla Tape” is a recommendation from one Container Crew member.

We HIGHLY recommend affixing multiple copies, e.g. top, side, and inside of lid of each bin. The QR code will make it easy for us to verify you both during load-in and on playa! Once again:

  • Inside your bin(s)
  • On top of your bin(s)
  • On the side of your bin(s)

Volunteers Needed!

We need Volunteers for Check in, Measuring, Parking and Traffic control, Packing/Loading Containers, etc!

Come for an hour or volunteer all day! There will be free food and drink. If this is your first year to the playa this is a great way to get to meet the rest of the NYC burner community!

If you would like to Volunteer please fill out our volunteer form!

Have questions about volunteering? Stop by the weekly Burning Man Happy Hour, where we’ll answer questions about Container, Burning Man in general, the meaning of life (42), or facts about whales! 
Happy Hour Location: Lucky, 168 Avenue B
Happy Hour What: Burners, Cheap Beer, Alcohol Free Options
Happy Hour When: Wednesday, July 30st, 6PM onward

Can our camp load as a group? What if our playa arrival times are different?

YES! In fact, we highly encourage this AS LONG AS your camp commits to picking up all of your camp mates’ stuff together!

If your camp mates have a later timeslot and if they plan on picking up your bins on Playa before you arrive yourself, then it is OK to load in together with your camp mates during their later timeslot.

Other than that, don’t make life harder for everyone, including yourselves, and PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME!!!

Transferring Container Space

If you need to transfer some or all of your container space into someone else’s name, you can do so at our handy Container Resale Page

What if I can’t be there during my assigned timeslot?

If you absolutely can’t make your timeslot, it’s ok to come at a different time. We’ll work with you if you communicate with us! But please make EVERY EFFORT to be there during your assigned timeslot if at all possible. It really makes life easier for all of us, including you! And whatever you do, don’t arrive past 16:00 or you may very well have to find a different way of getting your stuff to the burn!

What if I can’t make it in person?

If you can’t make it in person: you can have a friend bring your bins to the container.

  • Your friend MUST bring *your* PDF with the QR code (either electronic or printed copy)
  • Your friend MUST also bring a copy of your ID with them as well.

How long will it take?

We try to make things go as smoothly as possible. That said, you should plan on being on-site at least an hour between parking, check-in, getting measured, and finally loading your bins onto the containers. Do not make your uber driver wait!

If you are able to, please stick around and volunteer your time!