Coachella Valley Arts & Music Festival

Beyond the musical acts, the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, held in April at Empire Polo Club in Indio, has morphed into something of a cultural phenomenon, with fantastic food and high-wattage stars showing up in their best desert boho outfits. Artists also present large works, making the event a feast for the eyes as well as the ears—which is part of the reason why nearly 200,000 have attended the annual festival in recent years.

The musical line-up for the two-weekend event (April 13–15 and April 20–22) includes Beyoncé, Eminem, and the Weeknd. Joining the headliners are musical acts HAIM, David Byrne, alt-J, Fleet Foxes, SZA, St. Vincent, Portugal the Man, and more than 100 others. Tickets for the 2018 event sold out the day they were released (January 5), but there could still be some passes available through one of the Palm Springs area pass-plus-lodging packages. If you were lucky enough to score tickets, check the Coachella site to book on-site camping spots, VIP dinners, or even the plush Safari Tent lodgings.

If you didn’t score tickets but still want in on the festival atmosphere, there are plenty of events throughout the Greater Palm Springs area during both Coachella weekends. Visit Palm Springs has a list of events—ranging from camel rides to architecture exhibits—throughout April for ideas outside of the festival, including the legendary pool parties, like recent ones with DJs, themed brunches, and other activities hosted by the hip, rainbow-colored Saguaro Resort and Spa Palm Springs and the trendy Ace Hotel & Swim Club.