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Prepping for a festival is one thing, but prepping for one of the biggest country music festivals in the world that’s in the middle of the desert is a different story.
Both regular festivalgoers and first-timers heading to Stagecoach in a few days should buckle up for the wild ride that’s about to ensue.
Believe us when we say these three days full of country music at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA are going to be epic.
From April 29 to May 1, we’ll see Thomas Rhett, Brandi Carlile, Jordan Davis, Ingrid Andress, Tanya Tucker and Breland – and that’s only a small portion of the first day.
There will be more than 40 artists ready to jam out throughout the weekend, so you're going to be pretty busy.
If you can get yourself to part ways from the crowded stages every so often, you’ll find that there's going to be a lot of other great things to do.
You can say hello to the Compton Cowboys as they ride into town on horseback, enjoy the scenic views on top of the iconic ferris wheel, get to two-stepping in the Honkytonk Dance Hall and face the heat in Guy Ferrari’s smokehouse.
The days are going to be hot, the nights are going to be cold, and the dust will be everywhere - Stagecoach made masks popular before the pandemic even happened.
While this has always been something stagecoach-goers have dealt with, it may still sound a bit daunting, but trust us when we say the battle with nature will be worth it.
Our 10 tips for packing for Stagecoach will help you be as prepared as possible.
This way, you can just enjoy the music and festivities, instead of worrying about getting sunburnt and having to spend the entire weekend covered in aftersun. Let’s delve in.
1. Sweatshirt
Currently, the forecast calls for 90 degree(F) days and 60 degree(F) nights. That’s a pretty big jump, so you're going to want to be ready with layers.
Pack a sweatshirt, wrap a flannel around your waist, whatever it takes. Don’t underestimate the weather.
2. Bandana or Mask
While they aren't required at the festival, we’ve grown accustomed to wearing masks in our daily lives - so it’s not a bad idea to stick one in your pocket.
In this case, the purpose of the mask isn’t just to keep you safe from germs, but also the excessive amount of dust that’ll be whirling around the grounds. Trust us, it's strong.
3. Portable Phone Charger
The worst thing is being at a music festival and wanting to film all your favorite songs when suddenly your phone dies.
We’ve all been there, so make sure to bring portable chargers, 2 to be safe, that can keep your phone working until it’s time to head home at the end of each day.
4. Reusable Watter Bottle
Heat + no water = dehydration. It's a lot less fun. It's going to be pretty toasty in the daytime, so you're going to need to stay hydrated.
Keep in mind, there are certain rules when it comes to bringing in your own reusable water bottles.
They can’t be metal, glass, aluminum or steel, but bringing in an empty bottle that follows the festival standards will save you the extra cost of having to keep buying water while not suffering from any dreaded heat stroke.
5. Sunscreen
Have we mentioned that Stagecoach is in the desert? The sun will be out and the UV rays will be strong.
There will be moments of shade, but the majority of your day will probably be spent in the sun.
Pack your non-aerosol sunscreen bottle and remember to reapply often to avoid that sunburn.
6. A personal-sized fan/mister
This might not be such an obvious thing you would think to bring, but it will certainly come in handy in the heat.
When you whip out your own personal fan/water mister, all your friends will be jealous that you have a way to stay cooler than them.
7. CHEAP Sunglasses
We have seen too many instances where people wear their nice fancy Ray-Bans to a festival and they either get stolen or trampled on.
Just avoid that extra stress all together and bring a pair of cheap sunglasses (or three) that can get ruined without hurting your bank account or your weekend.
8. Eye Drops
Once again, do not forget about the dust. The bandana or mask will help keep it out of your mouth and nose, but your eyes will still be exposed to the elements.
Our suggestion to bring eye drops is going to be especially important for contact-wearers – you’ll definitely thank us later.
9. Line-Up Schedule!
Stagecoach has made it easy to pick and choose which artists you want to see on each day. So, download their app BEFORE arriving on the grounds, check off who you want to see and which of the three stages they will be performing on.
Screenshot your personally curated list and make it your home screen. Making will eliminate the time it would take to open the app and wait for it to load, while also saving your phone battery!
10. Gingham!
Themed days at Stagecoach are making a comeback!
If you don’t have every outfit picked to a T yet, then make sure to incorporate all the checks and plaid you can find for Friday – it's all gingham style.
For more information on tickets and for other country festivals set for 2023 and 2024 - head here.
For more on Stagecoach 2022, see below:
