HEAD TRIP brings new electronic music festival to Indio

INDIO, CA (KESQ) - A new electronic dance music festival is set to take over the Empire Polo Club in Indio October 10th and 11th, bringing HEAD TRIP to the Coachella Valley ahead of the region’s traditionally busy April festival season.

Head Trip is expected to draw about 70,000 people to the city, according to Indio Community Services Manager Jim Curtis.

While the festival itself is new, managing large crowds around the Empire Polo Club is familiar territory for Indio.

Curtis has worked with the city and Goldenvoice on festival impacts for more than two decades. He said the city has continued to adjust its approach over the years based on lessons learned from Coachella, Stagecoach and other major events.

This weekend, Indio will test a street closure the city has not previously used during its major festival weekends.

Monroe Street will be closed between Avenue 50 and Avenue 52 on Saturday and Sunday.

“We are actually going to try something new for this event,” Curtis said. “And it’s kind of a test to see how it might go for April.”

Curtis said the closure is being implemented in part for safety and security around the festival grounds.

The city will also be watching how the change impacts nearby residents, commuters and businesses. Curtis said the results could help determine whether a similar traffic plan is used when Coachella and Stagecoach return in the spring.

“We’re going to test it and see how that is and maybe do that in April as well,” Curtis said.

The festival is expected to be smaller than Coachella, which Curtis said typically draws about 125,000 people, but he said 70,000 visitors will still have a noticeable impact on roads surrounding the venue.

“Our main thing is to make sure our businesses and residents can get to their homes,” Curtis said. “We’re going to have 70,000 people come in for this event.”

Indio Police are also preparing for increased traffic throughout the weekend.

Sgt. Abraham Plata said residents should expect major delays near the festival grounds and should consider alternate routes.

Police staffing will increase around the area, with additional traffic officers and patrol officers working alongside other law enforcement agencies.

Plata said drivers coming to the festival should prepare before getting into traffic.

He recommended arriving with enough gas and keeping water and snacks inside the vehicle in case of long delays.

Police are also reminding festivalgoers to stay hydrated as temperatures remain warm.

For some businesses near the festival grounds, the crowds are also bringing an opportunity.

Saguaro Coffee co-owner Janet Rocha said the shop is already seeing familiar faces from previous festival seasons, including workers preparing for the weekend.

The business is increasing its preparation ahead of Head Trip, including making additional pastries, syrups and other products in-house.

Rocha said festival weekends can be especially important after the slower summer months.

“It has a big significance,” Rocha said. “We have a little slower season in the summer. So we’re really excited to see what Head Trip brings for us, just as it’s a new festival.”

Rocha said she hopes the event introduces the shop to customers who may return even after the festival ends.

For Curtis, balancing those economic benefits with the impact on residents remains one of the city’s biggest responsibilities during festival weekends.

He said the city works closely with Goldenvoice, Indio Police and communities surrounding the festival grounds to discuss traffic, noise and other concerns.

Curtis said the city communicates with more than 30 nearby homes and communities as part of its festival planning.

Indio will also operate a 24-hour festival hotline throughout the weekend.

Curtis said the hotline is answered by a real person rather than voicemail so residents and festivalgoers can get immediate help with traffic, access, noise or other concerns.

The festival hotline is 760-391-4112.

Curtis said patience will be key as thousands of people move through the area this weekend.

“We want everybody to be safe,” Curtis said. “We want everybody to have a good time. That’s our number one goal.”