Stagecoach party scene equals more booze than Coachella Fest
UPDATE 5:41 p.m.
It’s a weekend everyone looks forward to. A time to kick back and relax with Country music.
But while many are coming in for the beat, others say Stagecoach weekend is also about the brews.
“Everyone is just happy to be here,” Matt Lewison and Mallory Stemme of Ventura, California said. “Even the people who just work here, everyone’s your friend right away. It’s the friendliest environment. We set up six table flip cup games with about 40 people.”
For about a decade, Stagecoach has brought thousands of people to the Coachella Valley for some southern charm.
But while 154 of the 157 arrests at last year’s Stagecoach were alcohol related, and out-numbered the number of alcohol-related arrests at Coachella Fest, officers said their focus this year will be to make sure everyone is laid back and safe.
“The person that gets the alcohol license for the festival is required to insure that it’s regulated, and that we enforce,” Sgt. Dan Marshall with Indio Police said. “We are actively going out and seeking people with false Ids, and those getting fake wristbands to try and get alcohol. We just assist them in making sure that happens.”
While others plan to let loose, kick back and relax, while drinking responsibly.
“It’s gnarly,” Lewison said. “Everyone’s just all and one, and so happy to be here. You don’t talk about anything besides Stagecoach and drinking. Lots and lots of drinking.
Marshall said another tip for people who plan on drinking at the festival is too always stay hydrated, as drinking a lot of alcohol can lead to dehydration.
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The 2016 Stagecoach Country Music Festival is underway, and arrest statistics from previous years show the country music crowd tends to like their alcohol a bit more than those partying at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.
While the Coachella Festival arrest numbers show more people in trouble for possessing controlled substances, Stagecoach patrons are more notably in trouble for drinking violations.
Video: Zak Dahlheimer visits Stagecoach grounds as festival begins Friday morning
Police said 114 people were arrested for alcohol violations during the two weekends of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this year, and while we wait to see the arrest stats from this year’s Stagecoach Country Music Festival, we’ll look at last year’s numbers during the one-weekend festival.
Indio police reported that 157 total arrests were made at Stagecoach in 2015, and 154 of those were for alcohol violations, including 13 for being drunk in public.
KESQ and CBS Local 2’s Zak Dahlheimer is looking into the music festival trends and he’ll have more insight for you Friday night.
