How to conquer Coachella

By: Lauren Brose ‘15

Last spring, a group of my friends and I road tripped to the desert, where people camped, hung out with an enormously stellar astronaut, and frequented food trucks that sold watermelon slices larger than my face. This place formed a memory of what I consider one of the happiest weekends ever. I loved it so much that I purchased tickets for next year an entire 10 months in advance.

Now, this joyous day is upon us. If you’re fortunate enough to make it out to Indio either this weekend or next, you’re probably sharing the same rush of excitement that keeps coursing through my  body each time an artist on the lineup comes up on shuffle (let’s face it, I am listening to a playlist comprised of only Coachella artists). I’ve outlined some tips that I have for anyone who’s experiencing Coachella for the first time. : ) 

Music Festival Tips

Know before you go - You’ll want to know when and where everyone you want to see is performing so you’re not aimlessly wandering around like a lost puppy— or worse: completely miss a set you wanted to see without realizing it. During my first festival I missed Alt-J and didn’t even realize that they were performing that day until hours later. I was devastated, but this year I will not make that same mistake.

Dress for comfort - Please note that although I am suggesting to favor comfort over looks, that doesn’t mean you still can’t vibe with the Coachella spirit. Wear comfortable shoes you don’t mind getting scuffed up. I am wearing shorts that are loose but are paired nicely with tank tops, high tops and a small backpack. The backpack will hold a light jacket in case it gets windy later at night. Nothing out of the ordinary but definitely practical.

Eat a watermelon please - It’s hilarious because there are moments when you just know you must stick your entire face in. You’ll know what I’m talking about when you do it.

Do LaB - It has it’s own lineup and it’s nice to hang out there during the hottest parts of the day because they cool you down.

Drink plenty of water - Last year they sold water bottles for $2 and there were tons of refill stations too. Camelbacks are optional but highly useful since it’s virtually hands free.

Consider the size of group you want to travel with - I know people who do love traveling in large groups and while I love being around lots of people, I don’t enjoy being in space that is overcrowded. I’ve travelled in both large and small groups and had found that I prefer less people. It gets really hot during the daytime when it gets crowded and I prefer having space to move around.  I also try to avoid conflicting tastes with the people I am with and tend to make a mutual game plan before heading out to the festival. 

Car Camping Tips

E-Z Up Tent Mandatory - You’re going to want an easy up tent or, as my friend had put it, “sun shade or DIE.” It gets so sunny every morning. I guarantee you’ll be up before 9AM due to the heat alone. Not the best way to start the day when you step out of your tent and into a totally shadeless campsite. You better start making some friends if you don’t plan to have a sun canopy to block the heat. I’ve looked up the weather forecast for this weekend: Friday, Saturday and Sunday have the respective temperature forecast of 88, 91 and 93 degree. Yikes.

Showers are going to be really competitive if you are a late riser. If this is the case, I suggest showering at night after the festival to avoid long lines in the morning. I think that I am going to stick to this strategy. Otherwise, I advise getting into the showers no later than 9:00 AM before massive lines form. There are free showers and “VIP” showers that cost a little bit of money to use but are nicer and tend to have shorter lines.

Bring a lot of baby wipes - It does get a bit wet, grassy and/or dusty at times and you’ll really appreciate having these at hand. I like to feel fresh even when I camp, it just takes a bit of pre-planning.

Consider your plans for breakfast - There are food trucks that are a short walk away from the campground and while it’s nice having the convenience of these food trucks, sometimes it’s more fitting to get your day started out of the heat and in the comfort of your campsite. This year i’m bringing a small grill for camping that will satisfy my basic cooking needs such as frying up eggs and bacon or boiling water to make mac and cheese.

Bring everything you’d need for a comfortable night’s rest - This includes bedding. I am saying this only because last year I found myself being the only person prepared for camping. Everyone else slept in the back of a car of on the floor of my tent. I felt bad for them and and really encourage you to have at least a sleeping pad or some blankets and a pillow. The days are long and you’re going to need all the rest you can get.

Basic checklist

-A tent that doesn’t need to be any bigger than necessary.

-An inflatable mattress.

-A fitted sheet, blanket and pillow. No need for a sleeping bag. 

-Flashlight or battery powered lantern so you can see at night! 

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