Coachella 2024 essentials: Everything you need to pack as well as what to leave at home
Spring has sprung, and you know what that means, my fellow festivalgoers.
The gates open for the first day of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 18 days, so we are in full music festival mode over here. While we plan what kind of stories you'll be reading during the festival (and its sister country music festival, Stagecoach), we're also planning what items we need to stock up on, so let's take a moment to talk the do's and don'ts of festival packing.
Here is a list of all the things you need in your bag for three days of festivities, whether you're going to Coachella or Stagecoach.
Must-have items for battling the sun
Sunscreen will be your best friend against the harsh desert sun. We recommend a product that is at least SPF 30, which should provide enough protection. However, no matter how much SPF your sunscreen has, remember to reapply it every two hours. (However, DO NOT bring any aerosol-can sunscreen, as aerosol cans are banned from the festivals. Stick to good old-fashioned lotion rather than spray.)
Sunscreen-infused lip balm will save your lips, which are susceptible to sun damage as well (and you'll need them to be in their best condition to sing along to your favorite headliner at the top of your lungs).
Refillable water bottles have become very trendy, but the kind that are insulated and made of metal are not allowed at Coachella and Stagecoach. Make sure your bottle is made of plastic and is empty when you arrive. You can fill it at the water stations scattered throughout the festival to keep yourself hydrated.
Accordion (aka foldable) hand fans have been a super fun way to stay cool and show off your fashion sense at the fests in recent years. As long as your fan doesn't have any sharp edges and couldn't be perceived as a weapon, you're welcome to bring it to fan you and your friends (and pose for cute pics of course).
Must-have items for staying clean and sanitary
Wet wipes are surprisingly handy at the festivals. You'll be crossing dusty polo fields all day and are bound to sweat, so these help you refresh by wiping away the sweat — and the dirt that will inevitably pile up.
Hand sanitizer was a hot commodity in 2020, and it's just as important for your Coachella and/or Stagecoach adventures this year. There are both proper bathrooms (which can only be found across from the beer garden area) and port-o-potties (which can be found scattered all over the grounds) on site, but especially if you're headed there for weekend 2 or 3 of the back-to-back fests, you're likely to encounter many restrooms running low on soap.
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Must-have functional attire
A bandana around your neck is a must if you don't want to breathe in a copious amount of dust throughout the festival. Pull it up as a face covering when needed and the material will be light enough for you to breath out of. (A classic COVID-era fabric or surgical mask will also do the trick, but bandanas won't make you sweat as much)
Large hats are always in style when it comes to sun-safe attire (are bucket hats still cool? Asking for a friend), so be on the lookout for one that matches your festival outfits. They'll keep you protected and fashionable.
Comfortable walking shoes are needed to keep your feet from becoming sore. And festivalgoers, we beg of you, wear something practical. You will be walking and grooving and partying on your feet all day, so wear sneakers — preferably old ones that you don't mind getting dirty — with thick cushion soles.
Must-have handy accessories
Ear plugs are helpful for protecting your eardrums from the loud music. There are plugs specifically made for concertgoing that won't drown out the music quality, and we promise you won't look like a complete dork wearing them.
Portable phone chargers are good to keep with you to make sure your smartphone doesn't run out of battery. Whether you want to spam your social media with Coachella content or prefer to live in the moment, you want your phone with you in case of an emergency.
A small bag is definitely necessary to carry all the aforemntioned must-haves. Carrying a bag around all day might seem cumbersome, but a small cross body bag or backpack works perfectly. Bonus tip: utilize the on-site lockers at Coachella. If you don't want to carry your bag all day, you can store it inside along with any potential merchandise you might buy.
Items to leave at home
There's a long list of items that are forbidden for security reasons at Coachella and Stagecoach, and here's a condensed version of that list (I repeat, do NOT even try to bring any of these things through the festival gates):
NO advanced first aid kits* (including, but not limited to, hemostatic gauze or powder, tourniquets, compression bandages, decompression needles, or chest seals)
NO aerosol cans
NO air horns
NO audio recording devices
NO bicycles, skates, scooters or skateboards
NO blankets
NO chains or chain wallets
NO chairs (at Coachella, but certain kinds of foldable chairs are allowed in the area of GA designated for chairs at Stagecoach)
NO coolers
NO detachable lens cameras
NO drones or remote control aircraft, cars or toys
NO flags
NO glass bottles or containers
NO glow sticks, light sticks, or LED gloves
NO hoverboards or segways
NO illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia
NO instruments
NO kites or sky lanterns
NO markers or paint pens
NO metal water bottles or containers
NO outside food or beverage
NO selfie sticks, tripods
NO stuffed animals
NO toy guns, water guns or sling shots
NO umbrellas (but you CAN "bring a small parasol as long as you are courteous to other festival goers")
NO video cameras
NO wagons
NO walkie talkies
NO weapons
Editor's note: Some of the above items are permitted in the festival camping areas, so if you have a camping pass, check www.coachella.com/camping before packing the car to see what's allowed and what's not.
This story includes previous reporting from past Desert Sun intern Kevin Caparoso.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella 2024: What to bring to the Palm Springs area music festival
