Stagecoach fans flock to Indio early

RVs were packed and ready to ride into the weekend for Stagecoach. People drove into the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio early to start off their weekend festival.

“We like to get in here early cause we enjoy hanging out with friends and family, drinking having fun and just kind of relaxing before the fun really starts,” Joseph Lanihan of Orange County said.

On El Paseo, Budweiser Clydesdale horses trotted through the area in Palm Desert delivering their famous brew to local restaurants.

The first musical artist is set to hit the stage Friday afternoon. On Thursday, fans started the festival early at Jackelope Ranch in Indio for outdoors barbecue with live country music and beer.

“Love it. Great for the merchants, great for us, new friends, new people to come by and see paradise,” Leanne Kenny of Palm Desert said about the festival.

The owner of Jackelope Ranch, Lee Morcus said the festival is good for business too. Thursday was the 10th pre-Stagecoach party he’s held.

“It fills our restaurant, we don’t do it for the money, we do it for a great party but its nice to make a little money too,” Morcus said.

On Saturday, four bands from Stagecoach will play at the ranch to raise money for a local children’s charity.

“One of the assistants to Goldenvoice, their son suffers from Duchenne’s disease, so again, that’s part of the reason why we selected that charity being tied to the desert the variety children desert is multiple charities throughout the desert that are part of children’s diseases,” Aurissa Parsons of Jackelope Ranch said.

As the night wound down, fans are ready to wake up Friday and keep “their boots a walking” into the weekend.