Midwest Burners

⚡ The Post-Ignition Roundup ⚡

What a weekend. Ignition 2026 wasn’t just a kickoff, it was a massive proof-of-concept for what happens when this community decides to “level up.” We gathered at The Jewel, shared high-level safety knowledge, and danced until the lights came up.

The Bottom Line

Because of your generosity and a turnout that nearly doubled last year’s (175 tickets sold!), we raised a net total of $4,304.12 for Regional Art.

Following our commitment to share amongst the family, this money is being split equally between our four regional events. That means $1,076.03 is heading to each!

How We Got There

• Tickets & Admissions: $3,440.00 (175 tickets sold!)
• Art Auction: $1,912.12 (A huge thank you to the 33 donors who contributed!)
• Zeffy & Digital Donations: $110.00

A Regional Family Reunion

It was so incredible to see the room at The Jewel packed with so many familiar faces. Having burners visit from all our nearby regional neighbors made it feel like a true family reunion. Catching up with old friends and meeting brand new ones reminded us exactly why we do this. There’s nothing like the energy of this community in one room.

World-Class Safety Expertise

Before we got busy reconnecting, many of you showed up to level up. This Ignition had some of the best workshop attendance seen in recent years, meaning that you all took full advantage of the opportunity presented to you!

We also owe a massive thank you to our subject-matter experts who shared their time and craft with us. Having uniK (from Apogaea) lead our Fire Safety and FAST workshop, and Snapshot and Handy (both from Myschievia) lead both Fire Safety and the Incident Command System (ICS) workshop, brought a world-class perspective to our community. We also want to thank Tanto for stepping up to lead our Ranger training. Having this level of expertise in the room ensures our 2026 builds and events are as safe as they are spectacular.

Now Seeding:
The Community Events Committee

Each of the Midwest Burners Association events puts %5 of ticket sales directly to Regional Development. This funding is used towards leadership development and community outreach opportunities (like Ignition). To manage this, we are officially forming a new Community Events Committee.

We want YOU! We are looking for 1–2 representatives per city/region (similar to a Regional Contact model) in the following areas:

This isn’t just about party planning. While we love a good shindig, this committee is about any kind of outreach that brings our community together. The ideas are entirely up to you. Want to host a summer park BBQ? A group museum trip? A neighborhood service day or a local “meet the burners” coffee hour? You tell us. We want local leads who know their city’s vibe and can help bridge the gap between the big summer burns.

The ideal candidates are:

• Reasonably connected within their local burner scene.
• Natural “connectors” who inspire others to participate.
• Experienced or interested in event planning and logistics.
• Bonus! Do you have experience planning non-profit events?

If you want to help shape the future of how we gather outside of the burn…

Interfuse 2026 Art Grants are OPEN!

The season is officially here. If you have a dream for the burn, it’s time to put pen to paper.

The Highlights:

• Deadline: February 9, 2026.
• The Goal: We fund new projects or significant expansions to existing ones.
• The “W9” Rule: Any grant over $300 requires a W9.
• Materials Only: We fund wood, steel, and LEDs, not labor or personal tools.