Rapper B.o.B. interacts with the crowd during his performance on the final day of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., Sunday, April 18, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Record crowds filled the third and final day of the 11th annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, but the number of incidents requiring police assistance were down from last year.
The music festival brought in about 75,000 people each day, a substantial increase of about 15,000 people per day over last year’s festival, according to officials from Goldenvoice Promotions.
But the bigger crowds did not mean bigger problems for local police.
As of 4 p.m., a total of 38 people had been arrested for alcohol and drug-related offenses since Coachella Fest kicked off on Friday, according to Indio police spokesperson Ben Guitron.
Twenty-one of those incidents occurred Saturday when the sun was blazing, but overall, this weekend’s music fest was more controlled when compared to the 69 people who were arrested last year.
“Considering the massive amounts of people out here, things have not been bad at all,” Guitron said. “So far, so good.”
Today was cooler than Saturday and resulted in fewer people needing medical attention.
Paramedics and emergency personnel treated about 45 people for dehydration and other heat and alcohol-related incidents throughout the three days, most of which were on Friday and Saturday, Guitron said.
Overall, attendees spent parts of the festival dealing with traffic jams and long entrance lines, but the music was well worth it.
“I come to Coachella every year,” said Francisco Huerta, 25, of Mira Loma. “There is just something about the vibe you get when you are here.”
More than 130 bands will have performed by the time the festival held on three stages at the Empire Polo Field wraps up tonight.
Seven of the scheduled bands were not at the festival due to flight cancellations caused by the volcano in Iceland.
British rock bands the Cribs and Frightened Rabbit were among those unable to get to Indio, festival officials said.
Loading ...
