Surviving Power Trip 2023: Tickets, parking, what to bring, set times and more
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Get ready to rock.
Power Trip, Goldenvoice's first all-metal festival in the desert, runs Oct. 6 through 8 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. Like the promoter's 2016 rock festival Desert Trip, this event is being billed as a once-in-a-lifetime lineup featuring many of the world's most iconic metal musicians.
From where to park to where to pregame, the Desert Sun has all the info you need to prepare for your experience.
Festival passes still available
No wristband? No worries, you can still snag one. Passes are currently on sale at powertrip.live/tickets/ with the following price breakdwon:
3-Day GA: $599
3-Day GA + shuttle: $699
3-Day reserved floor seats: From $799 to $1,599
3-Day reserved grandstand seats: From $799 to $1,399
VIP packages: From $1,749 to $2,999
Note: For a limited time, verified Gov X Military & First Responders can purchase GA Weekend Passes at a 20% discount.
Getting there (and home)
More: Power Trip: Insider tips on how get to the festival, parking and camping
What's the best route to take? Primary routes to the polo club include Washington, Monroe and Jefferson streets between Interstate 10 and Avenue 52, along with Highway 111 at Jefferson and Monroe. These streets have all historically been hard to access during festival weekends, so expect traffic.
What if you don't want to drive yourself? Prefer a Lyft or Uber? No problem. There will be a rideshare stand operating on Avenue 49 and Monroe Street. Follow the yellow path in and out of the event for access. The highest wait times are expected between midnight and 2:30 a.m. each night.
There's also a designated friends and family drop off area in Lot 13 located at Avenue 52 and Madison Street.
Traveling on foot or bicycle? The site will be accessible at the following intersections:
Avenue 50 and Madison Street
Avenue 52 and Madison Street
Avenue 49 and Monroe Street
Avenue 52 and Monroe Street
What about parking?
Day parking is free at Power Trip, and parking lots will open each day at noon, with availability on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the lots are full, passholders will be directed to a nearby free park-and-ride location. Arrive early to avoid delays. Each passenger in your vehicle must be wearing an event wristband.
But now for the bad news. Don't expect to relive the glory days of the 1986 documentary "Heavy Metal Parking Lot." Tailgating is not permitted, along with RVs, golf carts, car camping and sleeping in your car overnight. Cars left after 2 a.m. will be towed.
ADA parking and other services are available. More information is available at powertrip.live/ada. Motorcycles may park in ADA parking lot.
What to bring to the polo fields
Anyone who's landed at the Empire Polo Club grounds during festival season knows just how dirty you can get. Yes, I know you want to wear a cute outfit, but desert dirt is relentless, so reconsider wearing anything white, and be ready to clean yourself up if you want a squeaky clean Instagram pic.
Don't forget the following (and pack it in a bag no larger than 18"x 13"x 8.5"):
A bandana — Great for swiping sweat away, cooling off when dipped in water and keeping dust out of your mouth and nose when used like a mask.
Sunglasses — Hopefully this is a no-brainer, but if not, you'll thank me later. A hat might be helpful too.
Plenty of sunscreen — Nobody can escape the desert heat at Coachella, so pack your best SPF protection, as long as it's not in an aerosol can (which security will make you throw away upon entrance).
Wipes — Body wipes, facial wipes, all of the above; they're your best friend when it comes to wiping the unforgiving desert dust off your body.
An empty plastic water bottle — Again, the heat is no joke and nothing ruins a festival day like getting dangerously dehydrated. Fill up for free at various water stands, which all offer twice filtered water.
Ibuprofen — For your friend who doesn't listen to you and opts for all beer and no water, or for yourself and your aching feet after standing for hours on end. Just make sure it's in its original container and not a baggie.
A jacket or sweatshirt — You won't need it during the day, but you'll thank us when the sun goes down and the temperature drops.
A non-professional digital, disposable or Polaroid camera — You want to remember every moment, but DSLR and other cameras with a detachable lens aren't allowed, so this is the next best thing (other than your phone of course).
What NOT to bring to the polo fields
What items are prohibited? To keep everyone safe, there is a long list of prohibited items on the festival's website, but the items you might not realize are prohibited are the following:
Flags
Flyers, samples, giveaways or promotional items
Any camera (including DSLRs) with a detachable lens
Selfie sticks or tripods of any kind
Metal or glass water bottles
Umbrellas (although parasols, aka umbrella-like shade protectors made of paper and light wood, are allowed)
Discriminative or appropriative Items
Divisive symbols or appropriative Imagery
Inclusion and accessiblity
Bathrooms: Gender-neutral restrooms will be available and may be used by any person regardless of gender identity or expression
Medical services: Medical stations will be clearly visible at the show and marked on the event maps.
Prescriptions: All prescriptions must be in properly labeled containers that match the holder’s ID (no pillboxes).
Strollers: Strollers are allowed in the venue but only if they're for an infant or toddler (all ages are welcome at the event, and those 2 and under are free), and wagons aren't allowed
Breast feeding: Need a place to pump and store? B.Y.O.P. (Bring Your Own Pump) to select medical tents for an exclusive pumping and feeding space. All locations will have power for electric pumps as well as washing stations (non-potable water) with soap and sanitizing wipes. Refrigeration capabilities will be available in select medical tents in venue and in camping. (Exact refrigeration locations to be shared closer to the show, please check back.)
How should I plan my day?
Those planning their metal music-filled days at Power Trip got some help Tuesday when the official set times for the festival dropped.
The set times are as follows:
Friday, Oct. 6: Iron Maiden at 6:45 p.m., Guns N' Roses at 9:25 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 7: Judas Priest at 6:45 p.m., AC/DC at 9:25 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 8: Tool at 6:55 p.m., Metallica at 9:35 p.m.
"No conflicts, all POWER. Get ready to bring the noise to Indio," the official Power Trip account wrote on Instagram. Attendees are encouraged to download the festival app and set schedule reminders so they "don't miss a riff."
More: Power Trip set times: See when Guns N' Roses, AC/DC will hit the stage
What if I want to keep the party going after the music stops?
Although no official pre or post-event parties have been announced, there are several bars and restaurants you can hit up before arriving at or after leaving the polo grounds for the day. Here's a few of our favorites in the area:
For the perfect pregame: Coachella Bar
Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Location: 85-995 Grapefruit Blvd., Coachella
Coachella Bar looks modest from outside, but don't judge this east valley establishment by its exterior. What makes it distinctive is its community room-meets-old-tavern atmosphere. Locals have enjoy games of shuffleboard and Jenga on regular nights and rock or metal bands during some weekends. "We want to make sure everyone feels welcome," owner Nick Meza told The Desert Sun in 2019.
More: Power Trip 2023: Indio must-eat spots for burgers, pizza, sandwiches and more
For late-night fun: Neil's Lounge
Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily
Location: 80-956 Highway 111, Indio
This western-style saloon located three miles away from the Empire Polo Fields has a tough exterior and a checkered past, but it's a popular hangout after the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals and celebrity couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have been spotted there in the past. It's also known for its laid-back atmosphere and fair prices on beer and cocktails.
More: Looking for the best desert watering holes for Power Trip weekend? Here's our guide
For after party beers and snacks: The Beer Hunter
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily
Location: 78-483 Highway 111, La Quinta
Website: thebeerhunter.com
If it's beer you seek, look no further. The Beer Hunter has more beer on tap, in bottles and cans than you can think of. This sports bar and grill also has plenty of cocktails and food.
Niki Kottmann is the Desert Sun's features editor. She coordiantes all music festival coverage, as well as all the paper's education, health, entertainment and business reporting. Follow her on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, at @niki_mariee.
This story includes previous reporting from Desert Sun reporters Brian Blueskye and Ema Sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Power Trip 2023: A guide to Goldenvoice's Indio metal music festival
