Arriving early on Thursday evening at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival isn’t just a tradition for husband and wife Linh Nguyen and Jennifer Chu — it’s a cherished family affair.
What started as a small gathering in 2016 with just a handful of friends has flourished into an annual ritual that now sees over 11 cars and more than 20 friends, or folks they consider family, joining them in the festival’s campground.
“We’re so happy to have one big family — it’s a community effort,” said Chu, of Los Angeles, as she walked around the large camp area, adorned with couches, chairs, twinkle lights, and speakers in every corner to blast music throughout the night.
“Every year, I’d watch videos of Coachella, and I would always think, ‘Why didn’t I go?’ but it always looked like too much work,” Nguyen said. “Then I finally decided, ‘You know what, let’s just do it.’ I came with a few random friends, and I knew from that point on I wanted to do this. My wife joined the year after that, and we just had the same type of energy where we wanted to add more and make it better every year.”
The group even hosts a special event dubbed “Spachella.” On Sunday morning, amid the festival chaos, they gather to don iced Korean facemasks, savoring a moment of tranquility before the final day unfolds, particularly after a whirlwind weekend. Also, there’s an extra treat: a yoga class on Saturday mornings led by Chu’s sister, a seasoned yoga instructor, adding an oasis of calm to the Coachella experience.
“Each member of our squad always contributes, whether that’s just good energy, cleaning up, hosting a small class, bringing food and drinks or creating a new tent space like our friend Frank who created a haunted house tent,” Chu said. “Sure, the music aspect of the festival is great, but this is what we look forward to the most.”
Cars with on-site camping passes began lining up early Thursday evening at the Empire Polo Club grounds in Indio, filled with eager fans ready to secure prime spots closest to the festival grounds for their three-day home. As campers set up their temporary abodes, some wasted no time kicking off the festivities. The campgrounds doubled as an early venue for catching music acts, with DJ sets spinning over at the Activities Tent and the “Trillium” stage featuring Josh Brooks on the decks.
Among the sea of tents, a large horse statue adorned with Coachella bracelets and necklaces served as a bustling hub for fans grabbing quick bites and drinks before sprawling out on the grass to soak in the music. Meanwhile, the Activities Tent offered a space where festival-goers could indulge in everything from temporary tattoos to board games and leisurely lounging on hammocks.
Emerson Trout from San Luis Obispo was busy setting up his vintage Volkswagen bus, which served as both a sleeping space and a hangout spot for him and his friend Bo Crozier, along with a few other friends who pitched tents nearby. This marks the group’s sixth year bringing out the van, tents and good vibes to the Coachella experience.
“You know, for us, it’s about the entire experience of camping and coming together that makes Coachella so great for us,” Crozier shared. “I mean, we all love doing this together and being able to catch music, but it’s nice that you can also come back to the campgrounds whenever you want to take a quick nap or just rest, too.”
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The group, all college friends, made their way down to Indio earlier that morning to snag a spot near the main entrance gates. They had only been on the campgrounds for an hour before setting up but were in high spirits for what lies ahead this weekend. “We wanted our space to feel like home, that’s the whole point of camping,” Crozier said.
Maureen Rose, who drove in from Fullerton, confided as she hung twinkle lights with her crew at the campgrounds that this year the headliners took a backseat. What truly mattered was the chance to make memories with friends she considers family.
“It’s funny because this year it’s not really about the music for me, even the headlining acts I’m not really keen or excited about, but what makes me come back year after year is being able to do this with friends and have the camping experience. Being able to pitch in and contribute with food by cooking and adding decor to our area is what makes it so much fun for me. That’s the best part.”
