The annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a two-weekend event held in Indio, California that is hotly anticipated by music enthusiasts from all over the world. The festival takes place every year in the middle of April.

Coachella is a highly attended out festival that has been in-demand for several years. According to the Coachella website, the festival has sold out within hours of going on sale for the past six years, despite expanding into two weekends in 2012. Coachella 2017 sold out in three hours.

This year’s diverse lineup included performances from headliners The Weeknd, Beyoncé, and Eminem and other artists including Kygo, Odesza, Migos and more. Beyoncé was set to perform at Coachella last year but pulled out of the event under doctor’s orders due to her twin pregnancy.

“Beyoncé was by far my favorite performance from last weekend,” said sophomore attendee Leilani Querubin.   

Weekend one’s surprise guests ranged from Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, Ne-Yo and Mason Ramsey better known as the Walmart Yodeling Kid.  

Senior Justin Wong attended weekend one for the first time and  said it exceeded his expectations.

“My first Coachella experience was awesome. I got to see a lot of my favorite artists including Illenium and Odesza and a ton of surprise artists that I really like too. It was one of the best weekends of my life and I was already missing it the next day,” Wong said.

Junior Kerry Sanchez packed her bags for weekend two and was eagerly awaiting Kyle and Blackbear’s performances. This was Sanchez’s second year attending Coachella.

“I really enjoyed the bands and overall experience at Coachella last year. When the lineup was released in January, I immediately texted my friends and said we had to go again,” Sanchez said.

Coachella is not only known for their diverse music lineup but for their eclectic food menu and unique art installations as well.

According to their official website, there are “over 100 vendors serving everything from wood-fired pizza and hand-crafted burgers, to authentic street tacos and fresh-from-the-wok pad thai.”

“The mango popsicle stands spread throughout the polo fields are a lifesaver when it is 3 p.m. and 95 degrees outside. They taste great and are a refreshing treat to get you through the desert heat,” Sanchez said.  

The featured art pieces were commissioned by Randy Polumbo, Newsubstance, Edoardo Tresoldi, Katie Stout and more. The art installations are original, large-scale, site-specific pieces that are displayed throughout the festival. They are an essential element to the Coachella experience and act as a landmark for friends to meet up at throughout the day.  

Sanchez recommends setting up meeting spots for friends at one art installation if you and your group get separated at some point in the day.

“The art installations are a great place to meet up because they are large, easily distinguishable and in a centralized location near the main stage,” Sanchez said.

Querubin’s favorite art installation was the Antarctic.

“The Antarctic is a visual dome where you enter an air conditioned tent with bean bag chairs and watch a sick video,” Querubin said.  

Wong advises newcomers of Coachella about the lack of phone reception and dehydration.

“A Camelbak is essential because there’s always a long line for water and you never want to miss a performance. The phone reception sucks so try not to get separated from your group. Make sure to set up meeting points in case you get lost. As long as you follow those things you shouldn’t have to worry about anything and you will have a great weekend,” Wong said.

Wong, Sanchez and Querubin unanimously agreed they will be returning next year for Coachella 2019.

Kendra Salo
Reporter