Starting Friday, the small desert town of Indio, Calif. will host tens of thousands of people attending the 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Spanning two weekends, Coachella is the largest and most well-known music festival in the United States, and its reputation has just as much to do with its being a wild party in the desert as with the musical groups it attracts.
More than 150 musical acts covering all genres will perform both weekends. Friday's headliner is Outkast. Muse will headline Saturday. Arcade Fire will close on Sunday. This year's lineup also includes Lorde, Neko Case, The Replacements, Beck, Neutral Milk Hotel, Pixies, Foster the People, Queens of the Stone Age, Nas, Calvin Harris, Broken Bells, Motörhead, Haim, MGMT, Girl Talk, Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Rey, Pharrell Williams, and many more.
In 2013, 90,000 people bought three-day passes to each of the two weekends. The festival took in $67 million, making it the highest-grossing festival ever according to Billboard. This year, tickets sold out in under three hours.
If you're heading to Coachella, here's what you need to know to make the most of the festival.
Be aware of the rules
Day 2 of weekend 1 at the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Saturday, April 13, 2013 in Indio, Calif.
Image: Zach Cordner/Invision/Associated Press
Coachella may be known as a wild party, but event organizers have something safer in mind.
Venue gates open at 11:00 a.m. every day, and everyone is subject to search when entering. A festival pass is required at all times. Day parking is free, but it's always better to carpool or take the shuttle.
Familiarize yourself with the restricted items â€" which include things you wouldn't expect, such as musical instruments, umbrellas, chairs and blankets.
Be ready for the desert
Music fans walk through water bottles towards the exit at the end of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, early Monday morning, April 18, 2011, in Indio, Calif.
Image: Spencer Weiner/Associated Press
Coachella involves long hours in the sun. Sunscreen is critical, and it is nearly impossible to drink too much water. If you’re sensitive to the sun, consider a hat and light layers that will keep you covered.
The temperatures will be in the 90s, and there are thousands of people generating more heat and lots of sweat.
Festival rules prohibit bringing blankets, but carrying a small beach towel is smart. Other smart items to pack: ear plugs, chapstick, your own wipes and toilet paper (trust us), and cheap sunglasses.
Be ready for the crowds
Concertgoers hold up their hands to form the symbol of the Wu-Tang during Wu-Tang Clan's performance on day 3 of weekend 1 at the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Sunday, April 14, 2013 in Indio, Calif.
Image: Zach Cordner/AP/Associated Press
Arrive early for everything you really want to see. Half an hour is a good general rule, but to see the most popular performances like Friday's Outkast reunion, you'll want to be there as early as you can. The last project that Big Boi and Andre 3000 did together was Idlewild in 2006.
Expect to have very little personal space, and to be in very close quarters with your fellow partygoers.
Remember to have fun
Wu-Tang Clan performs on day 3 of weekend 1 at the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Sunday, April 14, 2013 in Indio, Calif.
Image: Zach Cordner/Invision/Associated Press
If you aren't having a great time, you're doing it wrong. So enjoy the music, have fun and stay safe.
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