First day of Splash House kicks off Friday in Palm Springs

The annual Splash House festival kicks off Friday night at the Palm Springs Air Museum, marking the first of two weekends when the event will take place. The venue will host three different after hours electronic dance music (EDM) artists to kick off the weekend. Then on Saturday and Sunday the festival expands to three different Palm Springs hotels including The Renaissance, The Saguaro, and Margaritaville from noon to 8 p.m.

The event is one of the first festivals to be thrown in the Coachella Valley since the start of the pandemic. Organizers will be requiring that attendees show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result at entry if taken within 72 hours. Face coverings will also be required indoors regardless of vaccination status.

"It’s going to be awesome, I’m really excited. It’s going to be like sensory overload being around a bunch of people but we’re looking forward to it," Los Angeles resident, Connor Cummins said.

Visitors trickled into the Coachella Valley for the 2-weekend event. For Los Angeles residents, Michelle Vergara and Melissa Santacruz, they were looking forward to after hours music and dancing the most.

"After parties, there’s some really big names," said Vergara.

Despite the sweltering temperatures, many looked forward to cooling off at the pool parties that will be sprawled across each of the three hotels.

"We’re very happy to be partnering with Splash House and Goldenvoice to host the event. They actually buy out the entire hotel and they staff the security and the safety protocols for us," The Saguaro's acting general manager, Jake Logsdon said. "We’re 100 percent full, in fact, we might be 101 percent full so we’re just working out the last minute details with the Splash House team."

Logsdon said by the weekend they are expecting roughly 900 people poolside.

The festival is unlike any other pre-pandemic. This time around, attendees will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the last 72 hours.

"They’re providing testing for their employees and for any guests showing symptoms at the city convention center, so a lot of measures to keep everybody safe," Logsdon said.

The Palm Springs Convention Center doubled as a COVID testing clinic and a check-in point. With hundreds of people expected to attend, some of those already arriving Friday said the requirements add an extra layer of protection.

"It's for our own safety so I mean we have to party responsibly," Riverside resident, Jeff Lo said.

"I have a negative result, I don’t have my vaccine but I have a negative test," Palm Springs resident, lan Marzalek said.

"We’re taking super safe precautions. It’s still in the back of our heads. Obviously we’re risking it, as long as you’re being safe, right?" Vergara said.

Meanwhile, The Saguaro employees will be required to wear masks, in addition to anyone who is indoors.