The Summer Music Festival Season Begins with the First Day of Coachella

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has kicked off the summer music festival season. While nitpickers may point out that summer doesn't officially begin until June 21^st, those of us who experienced the 100-plus degree temperatures know better. This year, the eighth time it is being held, the event has expanded to three days. Many people wisely took advantage of the on-site camping, which was probably the smartest move for concertgoers who were attending more than one day, as the logistics were a nightmare.

Although I have heard horror stories about traffic by those who started their journey too late, I had no problems getting to town about 11:45am. I hung out with some people I had met on the Coachella forum, who lived about two miles away. I headed over about 1:30pm and got into the lot off of Monroe and 52^nd around 30 minutes later.

I was disheartened to see the parking lot empty of traveling vendors selling their wares, and very limited amounts of people partying. It couldn't have solely been the heat, but I didn't notice a heavy police/security presence so I'm not sure what the issue was. I will have to wait until some other event to pick up that t-shirt all the kids frying will be mesmerized by and the cryptic bumper sticker that only Spreadheads will understand.

Part of the reason might have been the huge lines to pick up tickets. There were a few booths with very long lines. I heard people complaining of having to wait almost three hours with no shade of any kind, just to pick up their tickets, and that doesn't count the security check. Next year, and for anyone attending next weekend's Stagecoach event at the same venue who haven't purchased tickets yet, pay the $2.50 to print the tickets.