THE BIG EVENT: Saturday, June 20, 2026
It's On, Baby
Saturday, June 20, 2026
10am - 10pm
Venue:
1440 Montero Avenue
Burlingame, CA 94010
What Is "The Burlingman?"
Our Thesis
We Are All Artists…
In each of us, our souls yearn and implore us to be creative and be artists. Whether it’s singing in the shower, picking up a guitar and making some music, penning a bad poem, or conjuring the magic of baking cookies, it’s in the DNA of every person that’s walked this planet, to make Art of some sort.
...But We Hold Ourselves Back
Despite our native instincts, more often than not, we hold ourselves back from creating. Why?
Because we’re fearful of throwing ourselves out there. We're afraid of our art not being “good enough.” That someone will poke fun and roll their eyes at our piano playing, the dress we made, the painting we drew. We feel pressure that our prose must be the Great American novel at first draft.
The pressure and anxiety we feel is more often than not, coming from ourselves: "I'm tone deaf; I can't play an instrument." "I can’t bake; I burn everything." Many people – especially in this bananas Silicon Valley – also seem to think that anything we do, must have a commercial angle to it too: "You should sell those on Etsy!" or "Turn that it into an NFT and make millions!” To all that, we shake our defiant fist and declare...
Sandcastles!
Ask yourselves this: what happens when we go to the beach? We build a sand castle, that’s what we do.
We've no delusions that our sand castle will last but a few hours before the tide sweeps it away. Still, we build a trench, stick some feathers in a sandy turret, form the ramparts, add some shells....voila! It's perhaps our most temporal of universal art forms. We all know that our castle stands no chance of withstanding the enormous forces against it, and there's no commercial interest in our making it, but we make it anyway. Just to have a little fun. To give the middle finger to the relentless waves of the mighty ocean -- "Bring it on, you bastards!!!" It's called, "Playing."
So Let’s "Jump the Candlestick" -- And Play.
So, what if we all just played and created more? Without fear. Without having to make a buck. Embracing the "let's make the sand castle anyway!" spirit, and bring to light any form of Art that we wanted to conjure or try.
Let's JUMP THE CANDLESTICK and collectively, as friends and a community, unleash the creativity within us -- joining together to make Art of any form we want -- Music, Dance, Paintings, Baking, BBQ, anything -- and do this, at The Burlingman.
Our Community
The Burlingman is for the Burlingame community* (and friends of it), coming together to participate in and make their own Arts Festival, rather than attending one as a passive observer.
*Yes, yes, those godless heathens up in Hillsborough -- they're a part of "Burlingame" too.
Our Values
Anyone coming to The Burlingman is welcome, provided they bring a spirit of Inclusion and Respect for your fellow artists and community of Burlingame.
What's With The Candlestick?
For as long as Humanity have gathered — for 10,000 years, maybe more — we have stepped, leapt, or danced across flame.
From ancient midsummer fires and spring festivals, to the rituals of initiation, jumping fire has always been a rite of passage, signifying the crossing of a meaningful threshold: leaving behind that which no longer serves you, and entering a moment of transformation and renewal.
Over time, the great communal bonfires of our ancestors were tamed into the intimate flame of a candle, and the ritual became lighter, playful, and welcoming. (The nursery rhyme, Jack be Nimble...). But the intent and functionm remain the same.
To jump the candlestick is to take part in this long tradition—innate in the Human condition, joyful in form, transformative in spirit. To do so successfully is not about height or daring, but intention. A "clean" jump means you cross the flame without touching it or putting it out, carrying your good fortune forward and leaving missteps behind. Tradition holds that those who clear the flame do so with luck intact, laughter close at hand, and the year ahead tilting in their favor.
So when you arrive at the Burlingman, take a moment, make a wish if you like, and jump the candlestick. Step across the threshold, join the celebration, and let the new creative and playful YOU begin.
Jack be Nimble
Jane be Quick
All jump over
The Candlestick!
Disclaimers...
The Burlingman is NOT the hedonist party that takes place in the Nevada desert, nor is Burlingman affiliated in anyway with it.
The name "Burlingman" is (obviously) just a pun, riffing off our town's founder, Anson Burlingame, and of course, that infamous desert arts festival. Burlingman is just a party for our friends and community, with a creative bent. This is a FAMILY event. So keep your clothes on, you degenerate.
The Burlingman is also NOT affiliated with the glorious City of Burlingame or Burlingame High School, but we sure hope they all come to our fiesta.
About Us
The Burlingman is organized by The Benevolent Order of the Burlingman (BOTB), a private, filial order of men and women of the Town of Burlingame, dedicated to encouraging and supporting the community’s engagement in the Creative Arts.
WHAT TO BRING TO The BURLINGMAN?
A Creative Self
Come and be ready to perform, sing, bake, make -- you're gonna create something here and it's gonna kick ass.
Show Your Art
Share Your Cooking
Play Your Music
Speak Your Word
Have a Taco
No Fear, Francis -- it's SHOWTIME.
And you're gonna SHINE, baby.
Food/Drinks You Create
We'll have a Taco Truck and beverages for you, but DO bring things you create: baked goods, BBQ, craft cocktails -- anything to share your creative talents.
Art Supplies: Small Stuff You Don't Care About
Bring smaller items from the family junk drawer or the kids' rooms, that we can hot glue onto our Anson effigy (did we mention there will be an effigy?): buttons, chotskis, toys, pictures, small dogs – anything you want to pin on The Burlingman to help him soar! Ideal size: less than 2 inches in length, but whatev's.
The Itinerary
Check out these amazing performances (this line up will be updated regularly).
Sign up for a time -- we want to see you share your stuff!
10 AM
OPENING CEREMONIES
10:00 am
-
10:30am
Event Details
10 AM
OPENING CEREMONIES
We light The Burlingman Flame (get ready to jump the candlestick)
10:00 am
-
10:30am
11 AM
Open Mic
11:00 am
-
12:00 pm
Main Stage
Event Details
11 AM
Open Mic
Sign up: >
11:00 am
-
12:00 pm
Main Stage
12 PM
Open Mic
12:00 pm
-
1:00 pm
Main Stage
Event Details
12 PM
Open Mic
Sign up: >
12:00 pm
-
1:00 pm
Main Stage
1 PM
Open Mic
1:00 pm
-
2:00 pm
Main Stage
Event Details
1 PM
Open Mic
Sign up: >
1:00 pm
-
2:00 pm
Main Stage
2 -4 PM
Open Mic
2:00 pm
-
4:00 pm
Main Stage
Event Details
2 -4 PM
Open Mic
Sign up: >
2:00 pm
-
4:00 pm
Main Stage
More Events
EVENING HEADLINERS
Don't Miss these WORLD FAMOUS ACTS!
5 PM
Band: Selfish Homicidal Ape - Acoustic
5:00 pm
-
6:00 pm
Living Room
5 PM
Band: Selfish Homicidal Ape - Acoustic
5:00 pm
-
6:00 pm
Living Room
6 PM
Open Mic
6:00 pm
-
7:00 pm
Main Stage
Event Details
6 PM
Open Mic
Sign up: >
6:00 pm
-
7:00 pm
Main Stage
7 PM
Open Mic
7:00 pm
-
8:00 pm
Main Stage
Event Details
7 PM
Open Mic
Sign up: >
7:00 pm
-
8:00 pm
Main Stage
8 PM
Band: Selfish Homicidal Ape - Electric
8:00 pm
-
9:00 pm
Main Stage
Event Details
8 PM
Band: Selfish Homicidal Ape - Electric
Artists: Josie Fontana, Chuck Fontana, Matt Fontana
8:00 pm
-
9:00 pm
Main Stage
9 PM
CLOSING CEREMONY: ANSON SET FREE
9:00 pm
-
9:30 pm
Main Stage
9 PM
CLOSING CEREMONY: ANSON SET FREE
9:00 pm
-
9:30 pm
Main Stage
SUPPORT OUR ARTISTS
Be a Patron of the Burlingame Arts!
The Burlingman is free to invited guests, but we ask that attendees please consider making a donation of any amount to the Burlingame High School Drama boosters, to help fund the Creative Arts for the children of our community.
Invitation Only
The Burlingman is a private event for members and friends of the Community of Burlingame, and it's FREE, but by Invitation Only.
Get InVITED
Artists and Sponsors Needed
We need Bands, Poets, Bakers, Fakers, and any and all are welcome to express their Art. Be a Headliner! If you're from Burlingame/Hillsborough (or are a friend to a "'Gamer"), we'd love to have you.
We'd also welcome sponsors for this arts festival to donate art materials, and such other food, drink and other materials to help underwrite the cost of The Burlingman.
BURLINGMAN.ORG
Contact Me
Got Questions?
I'll try to answer them. Or obfuscate wildly.
BURLINGMAN.ORG
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