Once again, Coachella is all over the news. Most people woke up to Twitter lighting up about Beyonce headlining this year’s event. So much so that they’ve renamed it “Beychella.” Her performance was full of surprises, including Jay Z and Destiny’s Child taking the stage.
So what and where is Coachella? It’s a desert city in Riverside County, California. The concert actually takes place in Indio, which is part of the Coachella Valley. It’s about 2.5 hours to get there from Los Angeles, and it’s about 25 miles east from its famous neighbor, Palm Springs.
Their population sits at about 40,000, but swells to nearly 300,000 people in the general area for the annual Coachella Music Festival.
This festival dates back to 1993 when Pearl Jam performed for thousands of fans. It officially kicked off as an annual event in 1999 with performers like Rage Against the Machine, Massive Attack, Underworld, and The Chemical Brothers. Since then, just about every imaginable musician has performed there, including Lady Gaga, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Cure, Kraftwerk, Coldplay, OMD, Social D, Ellie Goulding, and AC/DC.
This year’s event wraps up its first weekend today, and comes back next week April 20-22, 2018. If you missed the boat this year, it’s never too early to look ahead for next year, whether you’re planning on camping, staying at a hotel, or utilizing AirBnb. Regardless, it’s not a cheap weekend. Supply and demand will have you paying over and above for everything, from lodging to travel to and from the event.
The most convenient airport for the festival would be in Palm Springs. Doable airports could also include LAX, Burbank, Ontario, and John Wayne (Orange County). Make a vacation out of it, and stick around in Hollywood and Beverly Hills for a few days. Glitterati Tours of Los Angeles can showcase this area during a private tour!
For more information, visit the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival website.