Coachella is like the ultimate theme park. A very, very pricey theme park at that. It offers the perfect chance for escapism. It's a place for attendees to dress up and show out, without feeling judged. There's plenty of people, drugs, and dust. Here are some general thoughts I had about the event itself:
THE FOOD
- Not. Good. Expensive as heck and mediocre at best. This is why I can't give 5 stars.
- Sunny Blue and Kazu Nori (my two FAVES) were there, but they were both in VIP and thus I was denied their yumminess.
- Instead, I paid $18 for the worst pair of fish tacos I've ever had in my life. AVOID the generic food.
- I also had Sweetfin Poke (sub-par), Shake Shake (yum, but no shakes), Seabirds (meh), and Paella (good enough).
- $4 Vietnamese Iced Coffee popsicle was the highlight of my culinary experience.
THE MUSIC
- There's something for everyone. Love the variety.
- Sets overlap, so you'll have to pick one artist over another or hurry in-between shows. Expect to have a hard time seeing every artist you're interested in.
- The more recognizable artists tend to be in the early evening-late night.
THE HOTEL SHUTTLES
- The first night, it took two hours for my boyfriend and I to get back to our hotel. No buses, while the line grew and grew. Awful.
- At the end of the night, leave during the headliner's show to avoid the crowd (shuttle or rideshare). If you're camping, leave whenever.
- Going from the hotel to Coachella took about 45 minutes during the late afternoon.
- Check when you need to be at Coachella and plan accordingly. Try to be early.
THE ENTRANCE/EXIT
- Getting in was an odd process. The entrances were so congested, but actually going through security took 5 seconds.
- Security guard doesn't even pretend to check your bags. There's no pat-down. No questions asked.
- The entrance will really delay you, so plan an extra 20 minutes on that alone.
- The exit was easy. Just walk out the gate, no formal process.
THE STAGES
- There's over half a dozen stages, but some are more convenient than others.
- The main Coachella stage is open and the speakers are loud, so feel free to stand far away.
- The Sahara stage is curved and the speakers are terrible. If you stand in the nearby Beer Garden, you'll have a hard time seeing or hearing.
- The Gobi and Mohave stages are where the lesser-known people are, but convenient and spacious.
- The Outdoor Theater stage is so underrated! It's tucked away in a corner and easy to get to.
THE PEOPLE
- Coachella is a place for the richer folks.
- Coachella VIP is a place for the richest folks, especially your favorite celebrities.
- Lots of high school and college kids. A handful of older, middle-aged people who also deserve a good time.
- Many, many people under the influence of something. I was entirely sober, so it made for good people-watching.
THE RESTROOMS/WATER STATIONS
- Don't refill your water bottle at the restroom areas' sinks. Look for the "Water Refill Station" signs.
- The restrooms are port-a-potties, but they're not too bad.
- The restrooms get increasingly worse toward the end of the night.
- Bring wet wipes with you to Coachella.
THE WEATHER
- It was mid 80s to lower 90s, which wasn't so bad.
- It was DUSTY as all hell, due to the wind.
- Bring bandanas, hats, sun glasses, and a ton of sunscreen.
- Dress practically -- with closed-toe shoes for convenience.
- Coachella attracts fashionistas, but those 14-hour days can really get to those people who dressed for style and not for comfort.
THE ART EXHIBITS
- Nice for a quick picture, but more for show than tell.
- Didn't appeal to me very much after the first three times I spotted each exhibit.
THE ANTARCTIC
- I LOVED this attraction. I highly recommend.
- You basically go into a theatre room and look up at a dome-shaped screen that plays a 10-minute video.
- It was so trippy and exciting.
- The line to get in might look long, but it goes by quite quickly. Each show holds about 50 people at once.
Oh, Coachella. I will remember you always. Despite the food and the dust, I had the time of my life. -BRI