Wazzup Pilipinas!
Coachella Music and Arts Festival is probably the best place on Earth to be when April arrives. And we get it. Who wouldn’t want to jam and listen to their favorite artists and musicians all day long in a desert turned musical haven with people all dressed up in their carefree yet aptly appropriate boho-inspired getup?
Plus you get the chance to spot celebrities who came also to enjoy the sights and sounds of the party. It couldn’t get any more fun that. Being in Coachella is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
Mind you, however, that this weekend-long festivity held At Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, CA is visited by thousands and it could get chaotic if you come unprepared. For Coachella first-timers, here are some practical tips so get less of the mess and more of the fun.
Research About the Event Before You Go
Going to the Coachella grounds unprepared is the worst mistake you could ever commit. The festival has become so big in recent years that today it’s held on two consecutive weekends in April. It’s not just a small concert at the park event anymore (as it used to be).
Aside from musicians, you can also see art exhibits and installation at the event. Coachella has turned into a platform for different artists, big and small, to showcase their craft.
That said, if you don't have an idea of what specific events you want to go to and participate, well, good luck to you. You might end up falling in line for hours just to get admission to some of the side events, or waste time wandering around trying to get to the concert hall you’re getting at.
As always, preparation is key. The best thing to do is to research on the previous Coachella events and read articles (i.e. Coachella for Dummies) to inform you of what to expect, what to do and not do when you’re there, and what sorts of things to bring with you.
There will be numerous acts playing all day long and, try as you might, you won’t be able to attend them all. If you’re in your hotel taking a short break from the ruckus, you could live stream the acts on your phone. Just search Coachella live stream schedule to know which bands/artists you want to listen to when you’re not out on the grounds for the major headliners.
Download Useful Smartphone Apps to Make Your Coachella Experience the Best
You should make the most out of your smartphone. Nowadays, a phone is not just for calling, chatting, or posting on social media. You can do so much more by downloading certain utilitarian apps that can make your life easier. And for Coachella, yes there are apps that you can use to make your experience a smoother one.
Start by downloading the official Coachella apps. The app is your ultimate guide to the event. You could check out anytime the overall Coachella lineup for a specific day. It even provides a schedule of the artists or Coachella headliners you’re following so you will know which day and time they will perform. That information could help you make a better schedule and itinerary.
Some other useful apps that you could download include navigation app, weather app, battery saver app (as you’re bound to drain your phone during the event), and apps to help you kill time in an enjoyable way when you’re not out and about partying.
We found a site that suggests some useful apps when going to Coachella, and we thought that their list is pretty solid. We’re linking the page so you could try for yourself their apps.
Top Apps for Having a Great Time at Coachella Festival
Book Accommodations Months Ahead
Coachella is wildly anticipated by a lot of fans. International fans even flock by the hundreds to this event. And with that comes the battle for accommodation. Hotels could get fully booked weeks prior to the event and you don’t want to end up going there without a secured place to sleep.
There are a variety of accommodations for Coachella goers. One of the usual is, of course, booking hotels. Once you secured your tickets, make sure to book hotel reservations in advance, like 3-4 months in advance just to be sure.
If you’re looking for some more fun, you could try camping. There are designated places in the place to do Coachella camping. A lot of goers opt to go camping because they could party through the rest of the night and basically extend the blissful experience that is Coachella.
For this, the most popular overnight option is the Coachella car camping where they assign you a slot to park your vehicle and basically make camp there. Don't’ forget to bring along your Coachella map or GoFindMe so you’ll know where your slot is.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
