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 21st, 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 concert-goers who were attending more than one day, as the logistics were a nightmare.

Although I have read 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 52nd 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.

The last issue I have dealing with entering the facility is that on the event’s website it stated “NO Outside Food & Bev,” yet at the gate I discovered I was allowed to bring in unopened water bottles. Considering it was over 100 degrees, that information might have been important to pass on to the attendees. However, they were good enough to only be selling 16.9 fl. oz. bottles for $2 when they could have got more. There was also a promotion that encouraged people to bring back 10 empties in exchange for a full one, but some people dug through the trash and threw it around to fill their quota.

The festival had five stages of music, two large ones and three under large canopies. In between were all sorts of art projects, food stands, and information booths. Aside from the official Coachella vending tables, there was not much else to buy. While there were alcohol sales, $7 for a Heinken, the drinks could not be removed from the “Beer Garden.” In those areas people could see and hear through the metal fences, but as a grown up, it was disappointing. Plus, it only encourages attendees to get wasted before coming inside, particularly on long-lasting drugs.