The scorching, 100-degree sun beamed down over the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Friday, April 11, as thousands of festivalgoers made their way through the gates on the opening day for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Some arrived in groups, eager to reunite with friends, while others em barked on solo adventures, all drawn by the pledge of music, art, and the fast-passed energy that comes with one of the world’s most iconic festivals. For David and Maria Neebs, this trip was extra special: The couple traveled all the way from London to celebrate their 10-year anniversary, experiencing the festival for the first time together. “We actively go to festivals in Europe, but this year felt like the right time to finally try Coachella,” David shared excitedly. The couple, both longtime Green Day fans, bonded over their love for the legendary punk band early in their relationship, specifically over the ’94 record “Dookie.” Seeing them on the lineup this year made the decision to attend an easy one. Stephanie Hanna, 26, made a last-minute drive from San Diego on Friday morning to mark a major milestone—completing her master’s program. “I decided to come by myself just for the day,” she said, noting that Coachella has become a personal tradition. “I’ve been four times, and it always feels like a celebration after finishing school or exams.” For Monica Luis, Coachella isn’t just a festival—it’s home. “This festival is in my backyard,” said the Palm Springs native, who has been attending since she was a kid with her Aunt Stacy, marking her first Coachella back in 2006 and reminiscing when she first saw Depeche Mode as the Saturday night headliner for the first time. “That was life-changing for me,” she shared with a laugh. “That changed the course of my music taste forever. We’ve also seen the festival change so much over the years, but what I love is how inclusive it’s become and how many Latin acts are on the lineup now.” As a proud Mexican American and lifelong music lover, she says the growing representation of Latin artists keeps her coming back year after year. For many, the festival is just as much about discovering new artists as it is about seeing the headliners. Travis Rothe and Emilia Huang sought refuge from the heat in the Sonora Tent while also catching an early favorite. “We listened to Glixen on the way here, and they were a vibe,” Rothe said. Huang, excited to spotlight female-led acts this year, added, “Any girls heading a band are something I want to check out. There are obviously the big ones like Megan Thee Stallion and Lady Gaga headlining, but I also want to catch the ones on the smaller stages, so we came a little earlier today.” Marisol and Jocelyn Lopez, who traveled from Colorado, saw the festival as the perfect way to celebrate their college graduations in May. “We’ve always wanted to come to Coachella, but the price is crazy,” Marisol said. “Since it’s more of a one-time thing for us, we figured we’d go big.” Nearby, Debra Porter from Palm Springs took a moment to rest under one of this year’s large-scale art installations. Feeling the heat early on, she made sure to pace herself. “I’m making sure I stay hydrated because it’s just the first day,” she said. “I have so many artists I want to see this weekend, so I’m trying to take it easy early on.” As the sun sets, all eyes will be on the main stage as Friday night’s headliner, Lady Gaga, kicks off the weekend with a highly anticipated performance following the release of her latest album, “MAYHEM,” in March. Fans are also eager to catch Mustard, the acclaimed producer behind Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” as he takes the stage. Saturday promises even more excitement, with legendary rockers Green Day leading the charge and a late-night set from Travis Scott, sure to keep the energy high well into the night. And, of course, Sunday night will close out the festival’s first weekend with Post Malone. Related Articles 2025 Coachella: Here is some of the best festival fashion Coachella 2025: Photos from Weekend One of the annual music and arts festival Coachella 2025: All the weekend one performances you can stream from home Coachella 2025: How the campgrounds went from all-night parties to family traditions The Habit Burger Grill and Miguel’s Jr have Coachella festival deals ...read more read less