Coachella. Some call it the happiest the place on Earth, even over Disneyland. This 3-day music festival is, indeed, an amazing sight to behold. With music, food, and questionably better fashion than the red carpet, Coachella holds true to its awesome reputation. However, there is a dark side to Coachella.
1. Dust
Have you ever seen festival-goers wearing bandanas around their mouths? Did you ever think to yourself, “what kind of fashion statement is that?”. It turns out that these bandana-wearing folks have the right idea. Coachella Valley is in fact a desert, which means that dirt is everywhere. Combine the dirt with the wind and thousands of people walking around, and dust ends up in the air, on your body, and – you guessed it – in your lungs. Over one hundred breathing treatments are given out at the medical tents of Coachella every weekend due to people not being able to breathe due to the dust. Cover up with a scarf or bandana to prevent shortness of breath and wheezing from the inhalation of dust.
2. Showers
After a long day in the sun and dust, a shower is just what you need at Coachella. For all of you who stay in a hotel during Coachella, you are the lucky ones. For those of us who camp, we must be prepared for the absence of showers. Coachella does provide showers for us campers, but the lines can be up to two hours long – even at 3 o’clock in the morning. If you don’t mind this wait, then by all means just use the Coachella showers. However, if you aren’t typically a patient person, then you should think about the alternatives. You can always use wipes and dry shampoo to stay clean, but a solar shower is also a good option. These solar showers are sold at around $30, and they are wonderful. Just fill the bag up with water at one of the many water stations provided. The solar shower sits in the sun all day, warming up for your nighttime shower. Or you could just take your daily shower at the Do Lab.
3. Tents
Again, for all of you in hotels, this section is not for you. For the campers out there, you must be prepared for the absolutely uncomfortable phenomena that is your tent. During the night, you are going to want to be bundled in as many blankets as possible. The desert transforms into the coldest of places at night, so be prepared! However, once morning strikes and the sun comes back, the heat is overwhelming. Your tent will magnify the suns rays; the inside of your tent will be much, much hotter than the outside. As much as you need your sleep during Coachella, the heat of your tent will wake you up in the early morning. To beat this heat, a battery-operated fan works best. An E-Z up can also work to block the sun and help you stay cool!
4. Charging
During Coachella, you are going to want your phone on you at all times. Your phone is good for more than taking pictures and filming your favorite artists – it keeps you connected to your friends just in case you get lost or separated. In the Coachella valley, service is spotty and your battery will drain quickly. Coachella provides multiple charging stations to charge your phone at, but these stations are weak. It can take 30 minutes just to charge your phone 10%, and no one wants to spend hours at Coachella just sitting and charging their phone. The answer to this problem? PORTABLE CHARGERS. They are magic, and they will save your life!
5. Bad vibes
When you think about Coachella, you think about flower crowns, great music, and nothing but good vibes. Don’t get me wrong, practically all of Coachella is nothing short of wonderful. However, there will always be people who want to push, shove, and fight. For all of the kind strangers at Coachella who smile and dance with you, there will be one person who will roll their eyes at you and tell you to move. Rudeness is completely unexpected at Coachella, but it still exists. Don’t mind the rude folks, they are the ones with the problem, not you. As long as you go to Coachella with excitement and love, you will have a great time.
Despite the small dark side of Coachella, it is still an incredible place. With these tips and the right attitude, you are sure to have a great time!