Day 2 of Coachella’s final weekend set to draw huge crowd

Tens of thousands of music fans are expected to descend on the Empire Polo Club grounds in Indio again Saturday for the second day of the second and final weekend of the 2025 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.

Saturday’s lineup will feature headliners Travis Scott and Green Day, T-Pain, Charli xcx, Jimmy Eat World and Record Safari on the main stage, along with several acts performing on other stages, including Gustavo Dudamel & the LA Phil, the Original Misfits, El Malilla, Blonde Redhead, Beth Gibbons and Ed Sheeran.

The Coachella Ferris wheel, which normally displays the Indio sign before guests enter the main gate, was replaced Friday with the words “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” the title of The Weeknd’s new movie, slated to premier in theatres May 16. The R&B artist was not scheduled to perform at this year’s festival, but graced the stage as a surprise guest in 2022 during Metro Boomin’s set.

Sunday’s final day of the festival will include headliner Post Malone, as well as Megan Thee Stallion, Junior H, Shaboozey, Soft Play, Kraftwerk, Muni Long, Tripolism, Ty Dolla $ign, Circle Jerks, Basement Jaxx and others.

The festival features artists across genres including vintage, alternative, indie pop, R&B, electronica and more.

Friday’s festival was highlighted by an elaborate and mesmerizing set from Lady Gaga, who headlines for the second straight weekend, this time braving a microphone malfunction.

“I’m sorry my mic was broken for a second. At least you know I sing live,” she told the crowd. “I guess all we can do is our best, and I’m certainly giving you my best tonight.”

Police Sgt. Abe Plata said Thursday’s camper arrivals went smoothly, and no significant traffic issues were reported. That was a sharp change from last weekend, when many motorists waited for hours in long lines to access the camping area. Festival organizers said they added more toll plazas for this weekend’s event to avoid a repeat of those waits.

Up to 40,000 campers are expected on-site, while thousands more will stay in area hotels or travel daily via Interstate 10, ride-shares or private vehicles, organizers said.

At the end of March, the Indio Police Department shut down Avenue 50, between Monroe Street and Madison Avenue, which will remain closed until May 5 for the dual-weekend entertainment associated with Coachella, as well as the Stagecoach Music Festival that will follow on the weekend of April 25-27.

According to the city of Indio, there will be no access on Avenue 49, between Hjorth and Monroe streets, or along Avenue 50, between Jackson and Madison streets, or on Hjorth, from Avenues 49 to 50, or along Madison, between Avenues 49 and 52.

Officials cautioned travel delays will be heavy along Washington Street, between I-10 and Avenue 52, as well as on Jefferson Street and Avenues 48 and 52 going into the Empire Polo Club grounds. Extensive delays are also anticipated on Highway 111 at Jefferson and Monroe, and at all the exits into Indio from the freeway.

Options for slightly faster travel may be available on Jackson, Calhoun Street and Golf Center Parkway, going north- and southbound, while less vexing east- and westbound travel might be open on Fred Waring Drive, Miles Avenue and Dr. Carreon Boulevard, officials said.

Shuttle services will be available from area hotels and motels daily.

There will also be a designated pay ride spot, for Uber and Lyft users, at the southwest corner of Avenue 49 and Monroe, while family and taxicab pickups and drop-offs are designated on the northeast corner of Avenue 52 and Madison.

The Indio Police Department will receive support from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol throughout the event.

Arrests for various, usually misdemeanor, violations are common during the celebrations, officials noted. The number of arrests during the first weekend increased by 17% compared to last year’s event, according to the Indio Police Department, with most concerning drug possession.

The complete second-weekend marquee can be found at Coachella.com.

–City News Service