Over spring break, many students’ “For-You-Pages” or algorithms have been filled with videos of artists and influencers at Coachella, showcasing the glamorous and not-so-glamorous sides of the festival. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is one of the world’s largest and most profitable music festivals, held annually at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The festival lasts for two weekends, typically from Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12, and from Friday, April 17 to Sunday, April 19. There are 125,000 attendees per day, and over the course of two weekends, there are a total of 250,000 visitors. Though most of these people go for the music, it is not just a music festival. Coachella is an event that influences fashion, social media, and even the popularity of certain brands. 

Coachella was founded in 1999 by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen of Goldenvoice. The purpose of Coachella was to create a high-quality mainstream festival for the arts and to bring together various genres of music, including rock, punk, and electronic music. However, now the festival is a massive event with over 160 artists and has an influencer-heavy attendance. 

Many people came to Coachella this year for the big popular artists such as Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter; performances even got nicknames such as Sabrinawood or Bieberchella. Coachella offers something for nearly every listener, from pop and hip-hop to indie and electronic music. Major artists, such as Beyoncé, have headlined the festival in past years. Her performance was called Beychella, which drew huge crowds and media attention. With multiple stages and thousands of attendees, the performances create a high-energy environment that is a major reason why so many people attend each year. 

As previously stated, Coachella is an event that influences fashion, social media, and even the popularity of certain brands because of the rise of influencers attending the festival. Celebrities and influencers shape the festival as their style or outfits are often looked up to or rated by the public. 

Many Clinton students are influenced by the many social media trends, from music taste to deciding what to wear. A sophomore at The Clinton School, Amani Dedovic, went to Coachella this year and stated, “It’s such a great place to just listen to music live and really enjoy the vibe of all it. . .everyone has their own idea of what they think the ‘Coachella vibe’ is. . .Especially with influencers posting their outfits and people comparing themselves to others. However, as just a general person, there’s so much to see beyond what people post.” Coachella is often seen in a certain way online, but everyone has varying experiences. Those online portrayals still influence students’ ideas of trends, shaping what they wear, listen to, and how they express themselves. 

​​Coachella is known for its music and crowds, but people often forget about the art. The festival’s curators and directors search around the world for artists, architects, and designers to transform the Empire Polo Field with large-scale installations. These pieces, including returning favorites, turn the space into public art and iconic photo spots, such as Spectra, a seven-story spiraling rainbow tower designed by Newsubstance.

The festival has both positive and negative impacts. Coachella brings people together, shows art, and boosts the local economy. However, it is also very expensive and creates environmental concerns because of the waste and large crowds of people. Despite the downsides, Coachella is an iconic event that connects art, music, and fashion.