Music fans capture the moment as they wait to get into the Coachella campgrounds in Indio on Thursday ahead of the festival’s first weekend. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
A horde of cars and people descend on the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio on Thursday in advance of the start of the three-day Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Equestrians ride past the crowd that’s descending on the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio for Coachella. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Chris Heredia, right, multitasks, taking a swig as he pushes his 1971 Volkswagen Bug forward while waiting in line to enter the campgrounds at Coachella. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Music fans pass the time by dancing while waiting for entry to the Coachella campgrounds Thursday. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Festivalgoers set up their weekend home in preparation for the start of Coachella. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Chris Heredia, 19, of San Diego gets the party started as a horde of cars and people descend on the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
The tents go up as festivalgoers claim their spots for the Coachella weekend. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
