Day 0 at Coachella 2025 has already sparked comparisons to the infamous Fyre Festival, with festivalgoers facing chaos and disorganization before the event even began. Reports from attendees on Thursday painted a grim picture of long wait times, lack of facilities, and overall poor organization.
As the iconic California music event prepared to open its gates to a wave of A-list celebrities and ticketholders, car campers took to social media to share their experiences of the chaos unfolding in the parking lots. Some claimed to have waited over 12 hours just to reach a campsite, with one person revealing they arrived at 2 a.m. but didn’t reach the security checkpoint until 3 p.m.
Photos and videos circulating on social media showed long lines of cars waiting to enter the campsite, with some festival attendees resorting to peeing on the side of the road due to a lack of porta potties. Others ran out of gas during the lengthy wait, adding to the frustration of the situation.
The disorganization and delays at Coachella 2025 have drawn comparisons to the disastrous Fyre Festival of 2017, which promised luxury accommodations and top artists but failed to deliver, leading to a fraud conviction for the organizers. Attendees voiced their frustration on Reddit, with some calling for partial or full refunds after waiting for hours with no access to food or bathrooms.
Despite the challenges faced by campers, Coachella continues to promote car camping as the “most popular overnight option,” encouraging guests to “build an oasis for you and your crew.” Weekend One of the festival is set to kick off with headliners Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Post Malone.
As the festival unfolds over the weekend, attendees are hoping for smoother operations and a more enjoyable experience than the chaotic start on Day 0. Stay tuned for more updates on Coachella 2025 and its impact on the music festival scene.