Coachella is one of the biggest music festivals in the world and it’s kicked off for the 2025 show, taking place right in the heart of the Californian desert. It’s home to some of the biggest artists on stage, uber-VIP guests and some kooky and creative outfits, but hidden in the desert with the music and lights are secrets that they don’t tell you about the experience.
From pretty nasty toilets to underwhelming and over priced food, the secrets of Coachella have been spilled online from past festival goers. So, if you’re heading to the event or simply just curious, here are some of the things people may not tell you about the famous sandy spectacle.
TikToker and fellow Coachella raver Katherine Hayes, who goes by the name @softketchup has shared some of the things she wishes she knew before she first went. With an extensive list, Katherine first told her followers that she wished she’d had the heads up on allergies before she went.
She said: “The grass is flying everywhere. If you’re someone that gets seasonal allergies take a Zyrtec, bring your allergy eye drops…be prepared. I was not prepared the first time I went and I was struggling.” Katherine also advised ravers to not “sacrifice comfort for a ‘fit,” and said, “your feet and body will thank you.” As Coachella is renowned for wacky outfits, and she knows this one is controversial, but Katherine’s advice was to be comfortable.
Next up, she told people that “the food is mid” and that “you’re eating purely for fuel not a culinary experience”. She detailed: “You’re going to have so many food trucks and booths and stands and they’re going to look so good and you’re going to be tempted to get some asian fusion lobster burger for $40, but don’t do it. It’s not going to be good I promise you.”
Other points on Katherine’s list were to wrap up warm at night as it can get cold, and that you will be “miserable” in just a mini skirt at night. She also advised to get merch “as soon as you can” ideally on day one as the queues at the weekends aren’t worth it. Katherine also advised to bring painkillers as drinking and being in the sun can give you headaches.
Another point was, “If there’s toilet paper in the portia potty take some extra to put in your pocket”. She said it would be rare to find some, but if you do, it will be “gone in the next hour” so advised to stock up while you can or bring a pack of travel tissues for when you need the toilet. Katherine also noted to bring hand sanitiser as the hand sanitisers in the toilets are “always empty” and the “handwashing stations are also always empty”.
She then finally said to “be open to seeing the smaller artists you don’t know” and told people not to go into the festival in the evening when the ‘big names’ start performing. “Go in early, get your money’s worth, go to a few sets, and see if you can discover a new artist you like.”
Katherine’s tips have since gone viral, with fans commenting their thoughts on her video. One TikToker wrote: “BIG on the seeing smaller artists! People who enter the festival at 8pm… I will never understand.”
Another gave their own advice and said: “Highly recommend getting a locker to hold your stuff for the whole weekend. Keep a change of clothes in there just in case.” A third penned: “Bring a bandana or scarf because DUST will be your entire weekend.”
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