Coachella mayhem boils over as festival-goers brave 12-hour lines and near-record temperatures: ‘Literal hell’

Coachella Festival Opening Day Plagued by Severe Traffic Delays and Scorching Heat

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival commenced with significant disruptions on Thursday as attendees traveling to Indio, California, encountered substantial traffic delays, some lasting up to 12 hours. Festival-goers faced arduous entry into the fairgrounds and were further challenged by near-record high temperatures on Friday, setting the stage for a difficult start to the annual event.

Attendees Report “Worst Ever” Conditions

Numerous attendees described the conditions as among the most challenging experienced since the festival’s inception in 1999. Comparisons to the notorious Fyre Festival surfaced, and some individuals even demanded refunds before any musical performances had begun, reflecting the severity of the issues encountered.

“This marks the most deficient organization I have ever witnessed at a festival, especially considering this is Coachella,” expressed one attendee in a Reddit post, highlighting the widespread discontent.

Echoing the sentiment, a Coachella ticket holder waiting in traffic on Thursday told Business Insider, “I jokingly said earlier I wasn’t aware Fyre Festival tickets were included with this year’s admission, but that’s genuinely how it feels. I feel deceived.”

Adding to the discomfort, the same individual noted, “People are resorting to urinating in cups” after waiting for an extended period since arriving around 4:30 a.m. local time. “It has been eight hours; people are left with no choice.”

vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.

The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.

Festival Lineup and Weather Challenges

The two-weekend Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, situated at Indio’s Empire Polo Club, boasts a lineup featuring headliners Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Post Malone. Other prominent artists scheduled to perform include Travis Scott, Missy Elliot, Megan Thee Stallion, and a diverse selection of emerging talents.

Extreme Heatwave Grips Indio

The forecast for Indio on Friday indicated a high of approximately 102 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the LA Times. This is just slightly below the Indio record of 106 degrees set in 1904. A minor respite is anticipated on Saturday, with the high temperature expected to decrease to 98 degrees.

“Literal Hell”: Attendees Describe Ordeal

Another festival attendee, recounting their experience of waiting from 2 a.m. to 2 p.m. before gaining entry to the campgrounds, characterized it as “literal hell.”

“It was truly the most dreadful experience ever, and also profoundly disappointing given the significant expense incurred to attend an event we genuinely love,” the four-time Coachella veteran shared with Business Insider.

Upon finally entering, the attendee added, “We eventually got in, but everyone lacks the energy to even begin setting up camp.”

Social Media Flooded with Complaints

Numerous other grievances surfaced across social media platforms, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction.

In a TikTok video, one individual stuck in the traffic line emphasized the lack of restroom facilities, labeling the experience “disappointing” and “extremely dehumanizing.”

“It’s 100°F outside, vehicles are overheating, and people are running out of fuel. There are no restrooms accessible anywhere,” she stated.

“Staff porta potties are present, but attendees are being denied access. Individuals have been waiting in their cars for over 10 hours. People have been forced to use the bathroom behind bushes like animals, despite paying over $600 to be here.”

Understaffing Allegations

Another TikTok content creator at the festival asserted that the event appeared to be understaffed this year. “We encountered a complete absence of direction once we approached the campgrounds,” she wrote. “I even witnessed a staff member being taken to the medic tent due to dehydration. Several workers I spoke with seemed so disoriented and detached that I became genuinely concerned.”

Representatives for Coachella organizers did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment regarding these issues.