Coachella festival campers create elaborate car camping setups with luxury amenities, sparking online debate

At the Coachella music festival in Palm Springs, California, attendees are transforming car camping into elaborate living spaces with full-size beds, portable showers, and decorative elements. Ali Calder, a 31-year-old from Arizona attending for the fifth time, created a viral TikTok setup featuring a three-inch memory foam mattress, LED lights, a disco ball, and a pink theme. Her camping plot cost $500 for Thursday to Monday, with general admission tickets around $600 for three days. Khadijah Brown, a 25-year-old from Texas, defended extensive setups as necessary for extreme weather conditions including temperatures exceeding 30°C and 25mph winds. The festival offers multiple accommodation options, with car camping being the most popular overnight choice this year. British festival-goers have reacted with amusement to these luxurious setups, contrasting them with more basic camping experiences at UK events like Glastonbury. Some online commentators have labeled the practice "performative camping," though participants emphasize practical benefits and personal enjoyment. The festival runs two consecutive weekends with near-identical lineups, attracting both standard campers and those opting for glamping alternatives.