Burning Man Festival 2013: Inside the annual desert extravaganza

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One couple turns up the heat, sharing a tender moment in Nevada's Black Rock Desert.

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Anything goes at the annual art and music fest, which celebrates community and self-expression. Here, one man shows off some new temporary ink (r.) while others flock to an enormous installation dubbed the "Photo Chapel" (l.).

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People from all walks of life gather inside a large temple art structure in Black Rock City, Nevada. The festival encourages self-expression and self-reliance, attracting no shortage of eccentric characters.

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No rest for the wicked! These party-goers dance around the brightly lit-up "Truth is Beauty" sculpture on Aug. 30, 2013.

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The Burning Man sculpture stands proudly above the festival's grand pavilion, a structure built to resemble the ancient Pantheon of Rome. Tradition mandates that the Burning Man be set on fire at the end of the week's festivities.

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The sun sets on another crazy day at the Burning Man Festival 2013.

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Thousands of happy campers set up on Aug. 26, 2013, collectively building Black Rock City. Once the party wraps up on Sept. 2, the whole site will be torn down entirely, leaving no sign of festivities.

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Looking shady! A festival-goer hula hoops while shielding herself away from the rays of Nevada's lingering sun.

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Call it the hottest party of the summer! Tens of thousands of people from around the world flocked to the middle of Nevada's Black Rock Desert for the 2013 Burning Man Festival, an annual hippie extravaganza celebrating art, music and good vibes. In true Burning Man style, the festival reached an explosive peak as "The Man" was engulfed by flames on Aug. 31, 2013. Check out more spectacular photos from this year's festival ...

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Walking to nowhere, a young woman armed with nothing but an umbrella goes for a stroll through the wilderness. The off-beat festival is located in the middle of Nevada's Black Rock Desert, about 100 miles outside of Reno.

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Someone's always watching! This year, artists were encouraged to create installations in keeping with the festival's theme, Cargo Cult.

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They're going out with a bang! A stunning display of fireworks and fire brought the festival to a close. This year's event attracted record breaking numbers with more than 60,000 attendees.

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The Burning Man sculpture stands tall before it is set ablaze in the middle of the festival's campsite. This year's event boasts the festival's largest attendance to date.

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A reveler watches in awe as the Temple of Whollyness is burned. The free-spirited event encourages self-expression, attracting interesting characters and bizarre outfit choices that range the spectrum of creativity.

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A group comes together to see in the new day as the sun rises over Black Rock Desert on Aug. 29, 2013.

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Praying to the art gods: One festival-goer pays tribute to the Temple of Whollyness as it burns to the ground on Sept. 1, 2013.

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Peeking through weary eyes: A couple takes a much needed rest by a piano, having partied the night away.

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Thousands of people set up camp in the middle of the desert for this year's Burning Man Festival, seen here in one stunning aerial view. The festival, now in its 27th year, runs from Aug. 26 through Sept. 2.

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Party till the sun comes up! One festival-goer performs with fire as she sees in the new day on Aug. 31, 2013.

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It's all about love, peace and harmony. Couples embrace outside a temple art structure for the event that is dedicated to self-expression, self-reliance and art.

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An early bird takes in the view, cycling past the festival's many art installations at sunrise on Aug. 29, 2013.