The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival takes place this year over two weekends, April 10 to 12 and April 17 – 19, 2020.
Where it All Began
The festival has grown from a grassroots protest concert to an event of epic proportions. The first Coachella festival took place in 1999, but its roots go back to 1993 when Pearl Jam performed at the Empire Polo Club in protest of Ticketmaster. Their show proved that the location was viable for large concerts, but the festival itself did not come to fruition until seven years later.
It began as a two-day event, skipped a year, then came back as a one-day concert, but reverted to the two-day format from 2002 to 2006. In 2007, the promoters added a third day, and in 2012, it extended to a second weekend. Today, the festival takes place over two consecutive three-day weekends, during which people are invited to camp out on the festival grounds.
At its peak, the largest crowd reported was 250,000 in 2017.
Getting There
If you live in the area, getting to the festival grounds might not seem like a big deal. However, parking can be a challenge, and you might have to walk a fair bit. If you’re staying at a local hotel, there is a shuttle service – highly recommended.
Even if you’re not hoteling it, a shuttle pass is a good idea as you’ll avoid the parking chaos at the site. Shuttle passes are limited, though, so get ‘em while you can.
Coachella Survival Guide
Once you’re there, you’ll be wise to heed these handy survival tips:
Things to bring/wear:
- Bota bag, or reusable water bottle (no glass or metal) – whatever you bring, it must be empty when you arrive.
- Sunblock (no aerosols), lip balm
- Comfortable walking shoes.
- Loose clothing.
- A flashlight. Don’t rely solely on your phone flashlight in case you run out of juice. Also, a flashlight is a way for your friends to keep an eye on each other in the crowd.
Check out the list of allowed/forbidden items here.
Establish a meeting place for you and your friends
Decide on a physical location where you and your friends can all meet if you get separated.
Conserve your mobile battery
You won’t find charging stations unless you’re camping, so be sure you turn off your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and all of the apps you don’t need so they don’t drain your battery.
Rent a locker
Having a locker is a great idea to stash some extra clothes, shoes, and so on. The desert temps tend to drop pretty quickly at night, so having a few layers is never a bad idea. Plus, if you buy merch, you won’t have to carry it around all day.
Above all, enjoy the Coachella experience! The music, the art, the people – it’s no wonder it’s become the event of the year in our beautiful desert community. Be safe, be smart. Have the time of your life!