Prepare
for Coachella Music Festival this weekend
By
Brigid McGuire
Online Forty-Niner
Diversions Editor
The Coachella Music and Arts Festival is only two days away and it’s
crunch time.
Most of you probably already have your tents packed and your hotel reservations
made, but for those of you who have decided to go last minute, let me give
you a few last minute pointers and tidbits.
I have been going to Coachella since 2001, when I was a wee sophomore in high
school and had dreams of going to my first real concert. Back then, the festival
was only for one day instead of two, and the tickets cost a meager $65 compared
to the highway robbery of $85 this year.
Water is still cheap, only $2 a bottle. The bottle isn’t a two liter,
but compared to some of the festivals I have attended, where water is $4 to
$5 you can’t complain.
Drink water constantly before you enter the show and do not expect to be allowed
to bring water in. Sometimes the water rule changes and you are allowed to
bring in bottles as long as they are unopened, but take no chances.
I highly recommend buying at least three to four bottles as soon as you enter
the festival, because the line for water just gets longer as the day gets hotter
and the last thing you want to be doing is waiting in line and missing Bloc
Party.
Bring a backpack or a large messenger bag to carry all of your water and sunscreen.
Chap stick is a must or else your lips will burn and puff up more then Goldie
Hawn’s.
Food is moderately priced. However, you won’t find a dollar menu here.
Be prepared to spend at least $10 per meal and if you’re short of cash,
there will be many ATM machines there to help you with your spending spree.
I went to high school ten minutes away from the Empire Polo Fields where the
festival is held, so I know the quickest and fastest ways to enter the venue.
Take Highway 111 West and take a right on Washington Avenue toward the mountains.
Then take a left onto Avenue 50. This way you are missing all of the traffic
on Jefferson Street, which are the directions given by MapQuest.com.
I cannot stress enough to dress for the weather. You can wear that skimpy tank
top and short shorts if you want, but also bring a sweater. The wind tends
to pick up after dark and the temperature drops about 20 degrees. You don’t
want to be stuck buying a $50 sweater just to keep from catching pneumonia.
To avoid having a meltdown after the show, do not forget where you parked your
car. I cannot tell you how many times I couldn’t remember exactly where
I parked and it just turned into a half an hour headache.
So remember, drink lots of water, bring about $30, a sweater and get ready
to rock out.
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