Beyonce will look to somehow top her all-out Weekend One performance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival when she takes the stage in Indio Saturday.
After being forced to cancel a planned 2017 headlining Coachella gig due to pregnancy, Beyonce made good in a big way on her promise to return in 2018 with a stunning Saturday night show that had fans proclaiming her ownership of the festival’s first weekend, dubbing it “Beychella.”
Along with bringing out husband Jay-Z, Beyonce orchestrated a Destiny’s Child reunion, a dance-off with her sister Solange, a marching band accompaniment and a full slate of costume changes.
Gates at the Empire Polo Grounds are set to open at 11 a.m. Saturday, with the more than 119,000 people who attended each day of Weekend One a fair approximation of the massive number of festival goers that can be expected in Indio Saturday.
Local motorists looking to avoid the clogged roadways should take heed of designated “primary access routes” for the festivals, which will be “severely impacted” this weekend, according to the city of Indio.
These include:
— Jefferson Street, from Interstate 10 to Avenue 52;
— Washington Street, from Interstate 10 to Avenue 52;
— Monroe Street, from Interstate 10 to Avenue 52;
— Highway 111 at Jefferson Street;
— Highway 111 at Monroe Street;
— eastbound Interstate 10 exit at Jefferson Street;
— eastbound Interstate 10 exit at Monroe Street; and
— eastbound Interstate 10 exit at Washington Street.
Road closures include:
— Avenue 49, between Hjorth Street and Monroe Street;
— Avenue 50, between Madison Street and Jackson Street;
— Hjorth Street, between Avenue 49 and Avenue 50; and
— Madison Street, between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52.
Those looking to avoid driving altogether can be dropped off by ride-hauling services and taxis at the southwest corner of Avenue 49 and Monroe Street, or dropped off and picked up by friends and family at the northeast corner of Avenue 52 and Madison Street.
In addition to music and its usual collection of massive art displays, Coachella will feature a full slate of food options, including a brand-new “Indio Central Market” patterned after the iconic Grand Central Market in Los Angeles and featuring more than 15 restaurants from across the country. Festival attendees can also opt for fare from three “pop-up” restaurants and more than 100 food vendors, amply covering a wide variety of palettes and dietary restrictions.
The “Outstanding in the Field” outdoor dining experience will return, featuring a four-course family style meal for $225.
New enhanced security measures are in effect this year, with the Indio Police Department rolling out drones to monitor crowds and traffic, as well as tourniquets to be carried by officers posted at the festival.
The new security measures come after a spate of cell phone thefts during last year’s festival, which led to the arrests of around 10 suspects. Some have also questioned whether recent mass shootings like the Route 91 Harvest music festival tragedy in Las Vegas have impacted local law enforcement’s approach to festival security.
Indio police Sgt. Daniel Marshall said the department engages in preparations for “major incidents” each year prior to the festival, and that recent major shootings have not drastically affected the department’s response to the annual event.
“We always train for those situations. We have to prepare,” Marshall said.
It’s too early to say whether or not the new security measures are to thank for a dip in arrests during the first festival weekend.
More than 100 people were arrested or cited for various minor drug and alcohol violations. The 106 arrests represented a 15 percent drop from last year’s initial weekend, according to the Indio Police Department.
The weather will be mostly sunny and get progressively warmer and less windy throughout the three-day second weekend. Highs in the Coachella Valley are expected to be around 89 to 94 degrees with light winds Saturday.
Visit www.coachella.com for festival maps, set times, and more.
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