As weekend two of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival gets underway, the focus isn’t just on the headliners—it’s on the traffic, the campers, and whether last weekend’s chaos will repeat itself.
During weekend one, some festivalgoers reported waiting up to 12 hours just to enter the camping area, with no access to restrooms and no clear direction from event staff. The situation prompted public outcry and concern from local officials and residents alike.
At Tuesday night’s La Quinta City Council meeting, George Cunningham of Goldenvoice, the festival’s organizer, publicly addressed the issues for the first time.
“Again, we apologize for what took place—for your residents, for the impact it had on the community,” Cunningham said. “We didn’t expect that many people to arrive at once. We are making adjustments for this weekend.”
Those adjustments weren’t detailed in full, but Cunningham insisted the company is working on improving traffic flow and better managing arrival times.
Whether those adjustments will be effective remains to be seen. Locals are being warned to expect another wave of incoming traffic—and if campers are once again forced to leave their vehicles in desperation, festivalgoers are being reminded: this is the desert, and yes, there are cacti.
Residents and city leaders alike will be watching closely to see if weekend two runs smoother than the first—and whether promises made are promises kept.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
April 18, 2025
