Coachella 2017: Last minute prep you must know

All roads are heading to the Coachella 2017 in Indio, California, this weekend. If you are planning to join the crowd, here are some last minute tips for you.

Music fans are making their way to the Empire Polo Fields in Indio as the annual festival kicks off on Friday. Performances of several music artists are scheduled on April 14, 15 and 16, and on the following weekend (April 21-23). Before heading out to the festival, check out this information to better prepare yourself.

Venue

The festival venue has a capacity of 125,000, but police are expecting up to 75,000 more coming to Indio for the concert-related activities around town. Several hotels, pools, private estates and campgrounds will be hosting parties all weekend in the surrounding area.

If you are a frequent festivalgoer, you will notice some changes in the venue. A new stage has been added and the layout has changed.

The venue opens at 11 a.m. on each day of the festival. Don't forget your festival pass and you must wear it at all times. All ages are welcome so you can also bring your kids. Keep in mind that children ages 5 and under are free.

What not to bring

If you can tag along everyone to the festival, there are some things that you may want to leave at home. On top of the list of not allowed on the festival are aerosol products or aerosol cans. Of course, guns, ammunition, tasers, knives, weapons or any sharp objects are prohibited too.

According to Coachella Festival, audio recording devices and video cameras including detachable lens cameras are not allowed as well. If you have a drone or remote control aircraft, cars or toys, better leave it at home. Drugs or drug paraphernalia are banned too.

Weather

Expect a typical Southern California weather with highs in the mid-90s. Pack your sunscreen and water. Lows will dip into the 50s at night. Remember, the festival has a rain or shine policy, which means the show will still go on even if it’s raining. Just be prepared.

Accommodation

If you haven’t book rentals yet, don’t worry, there is still a chance you will get a comfy bed at night. There are still vacant accommodations in the area. Prices will depend on your reference.

An entire home, for instance, goes for as low as $1,500 (AU$1,980) a day. In comparison, a single room in someone’s house will normally charge you from $200 (AU$264) to $300 (AU$396) a night. You can also visit the vacation rental listing platform Airbnb for available rentals near the venue.

Services

Mobile telecommunication services might be inconsistent as well as your smartphone battery life. The best thing to do is write down some important contact numbers in case you will need those when you already run out of battery life.

Watch online

You don't need to worry if you failed to catch your plane going to California. You can still watch online some of the performances in this year’s festival.

The Coachella Festival has announced that it will stream live much of the festival’s performances on YouTube for free. For more information about the event, you can check the official site of 2017 Coachella Music & Arts Festival here.