The Flaming Prairie Dispatch (aka Resonance burn newsletter) first edition, revision 23.7, third iteration,

Hello friends, dreamers, schemers, artists, volunteers, and those of you who somehow end up in leadership roles because you “just wanted to help once,”

Welcome to the very first edition of the Reso newsletter, your one-stop source for updates, deadlines, announcements, and the occasional lovingly delivered reminder that this event does not build itself. This newsletter exists to keep the community informed about all things Reso 2026, from tickets and volunteer needs to art opportunities, infrastructure updates, and the many moving pieces that help transform a patch of Kansas into a temporary world of creativity, connection, and beautifully organized nonsense.

For those just tuning in, here’s a summary of recent announcements. Reso 2026 is happening in Hutchinson at the same location as last year, with Early Entry on September 16 and the event running September 17 at 8 AM through September 20 at noon. This year’s theme is Everything is Relative, inviting participants to explore perspective, connection, scale, and the strange and wonderful ways meaning shifts depending on where you stand. We’ve also announced this year’s temple: The Temple of Collective Care, a moving symbol of how community holds us up during difficult times. In addition, Art Grant applications are open, Theme Camp applications are open, and Event submissions are open, so now is an excellent time to stop lovingly overthinking your idea and actually send it in.

There are also a few major logistical updates worth highlighting. Tickets went on sale April 16 at noon through our new ticketing platform, Eventbrite, which we’ve chosen because it’s familiar, widely used, and offers easier payment flexibility through PayPal. Ticket prices are 55 for adults and 25 for youth 13 and under.

This year we are also introducing a Vehicle Pass for any vehicle that remains on site. The goal is to encourage carpooling, better manage limited parking, and generate additional support for the arts. Funds from Vehicle Passes will go directly toward art grants, with the first $1,500 supporting art at Reso and the remainder helping fund art in the greater Wichita area.

Ice reservations and pickups are also part of this year’s planning, and more details on pickup logistics will continue to roll out.

On the participation front, we are still looking for volunteers and leaders in several key areas. Departments that have a need include Gate, Greeters, Resto, Rangers, First Aid, and more. If you’ve ever thought, “I would like to help this strange and wonderful machine function,” this is your sign. We’ve also announced a stronger effort to build out Kidsville, and families are encouraged to reach out so we can plan with them in mind. If you want to teach a class or host an activity in Kidsville, you can contact tanto@wichitaburners.org.

And yes, Reso now also has a website: www.resonanceburn.com, lovingly powered by pizza and coffee and held together with leftover bandaids and bungee cords.

This newsletter will continue to serve as our regular megaphone for all things Reso: important dates, participation opportunities, policy updates, calls for volunteers, art and camp announcements, and occasional reminders that community is not something we consume—it’s something we build together. We’re glad you’re here, and we hope you’ll stay engaged as we move from planning season into full creative momentum.

And because every respectable newsletter deserves at least one obscure animal fact: octopuses have three hearts, blue blood, and can taste with their arms, which frankly feels like the kind of overachieving nonsense that would fit right in at Reso.

In the coming days we will start announcing the things, and asking for participation in other things, once a week you will receive this newsletter until the event. Thereafter it will take a break for a while until the 2027 event cycle spins up.

You can subscribe (which you are) or unsubscribe by visiting this link https://groups.google.com/a/wichitaburners.org/g/reso-announce. Note this is not an email list for discussion, so you will not be inundated with replies, and only leadership can send out messages. All replies will go to leadership and not to the email list. Feel free to ask questions anytime. 

Feel free to forward this email to others that might be interested in participating or being part of the Resonance event.

More soon,

The Reso Team