Get ready to kick up some dust and let your inner cowboy/cowgirl loose at Stagecoach, the ultimate country music extravaganza is in the heart of Greater Palm Springs! 

Stagecoach, is one of the biggest country music festivals in the United States, because every April in Greater Palm Springs, it’s a perfect time to be a cowboy or a cowgirl. Stagecoach, which started back in 2007 and is often referred to as the Country Coachella, will be delivering its country music twang and barbecue sauce tang to 80,000 or so fans at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

The festival runs from April 26-28 and there are limited tickets still available, a three-day general admission pass is $549, check the website stagecoachfestival.com for availability and different types of passes.

Here's everything you need to know to ensure your three days in country music paradise are unforgettable.

The Music Lineup

The headliners this year are Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Morgan Wallen. A popular trio to be sure, but the lineup is deep with popular names as about 15 acts perform each day.

Friday: Before Church hits the stage you can hear a veteran singer-songwriter like Dwight Yoakam, find out about Elle King’s “Ex’s and Oh’s” and have a little fun with Jelly Roll.

Saturday: Before Lambert starts belting you can hear one of the oddest combos to ever be on the same bill in the aforementioned Willie Nelson, still going strong, and rapper Post Malone who is dipping his toe into the country waters with classic covers. The day also includes Luke Grimes, Charley Crockett and Leon Bridges.

Sunday: The headliner is Morgan Wallen, and other popular young artists like Hardy and Bailey Zimmerman are on the bill, but you can also kick the dust off your boots old school with Clint Black or Pam Tillis. Also performing Sunday, if you’re interested in some “Good Vibrations” are none other than The Beach Boys, adding a little California surf rock to the country party.

Late Night at the Palomino: In the last three or four years, the Stagecoach experience has also included what they call “Late Night at the Palomino” which is a fun way to end the night featuring artists that don’t necessarily skew country. This year the Palomino night slate features Nickleback on Friday, Diplo on Saturday and Wiz Khalifa on Sunday.
 

Must-Try Food and Drinks

Are you properly Stagecoach-ing if you’re not going to town on the food and drink options? This is the kind of festival where a barbecue sauce dribble on your shirt is a badge of honor, not a stain of shame.

The anchor to the food experience is Guy Fieri’s Stagecoach Smokehouse curated and crafted by the spiky-haired dynamo. Guy’s Smokehouse features barbecue styles from California to Georgia with several stops in between, and he’s always known to have a few celebrity pitmasters around to help him out. This year that list includes Jelly Roll, Clint Black, Diplo, Hardy, and Bailey Zimmerman. Guy’s isn’t the only place to get food on the grounds, there are all sorts of options, but his is usually the most fun.

Staying hydrated is very important at the festival. Water stations are almost everywhere so bring your plastic water bottle. There are also plenty of ways to stay wink-wink hydrated as well from the Beer Barn where you can find some shade, charge your phone, and grab a cold one, to the plethora of bars located throughout the venue. You can quench your thirst with non-alcoholic options too like lemonade, root beer floats, tea, coffee, kombucha, soda, coconut water, smoothies, and non-alcoholic beer.
 

Other on-site amenities

Have you heard of The Cabin? It’s a spot near the Beer Barn that looks like a cabin in the woods. You can drink a craft cocktail while you sit on the front porch or drink whiskey by the fireplace inside. It’s like being transported to a different world, if for only a few minutes.

If you want to take a break from the Mane Stage or the Palomino Tent, take a ride on the iconic Ferris wheel. It’s a great way to see the entire grounds and get some coveted social media pics.

You can hit the Honkytonk Dance Hall to cool down in an air-conditioned room with different DJs spinning throughout the day. If you have little whipper-snappers with you, you may want to check out the Half-pint Hootenanny. It is also air-conditioned and has fun activities for the kids and the kids at heart.
 

Random pro tips

Arrive early. This is probably the best pro tip. If the first band you want to see doesn’t start until 6 p.m., don’t wait to arrive at 5:30 p.m. Traditionally the worst time to arrive is between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. in that the traffic outside the venue and check-in lines inside the venue are the most congested. If you arrive early there are plenty of ways to stay busy and that 6 p.m. band will be playing before you know it. 

If you are adventurous you should look into on-site camping, of which there are many options spelled out in the website’s “plan” section. The camping area at Stagecoach is one of the most impressive things I’ve seen. Their cars and RVs are turned into parties on wheels with lights and games and shade structures and mini-swimming pools and hot tubs. It’s like tail-gating times 10.

Unlike other music festivals, you can bring in a lawn chair or a blanket to sort of mark your territory and get a spot on the lawn for the day. If that sounds more like your style than standing and swaying to the music all day, take your gear and make yourself comfortable while on the grounds. If you’re getting your money’s worth you’ll be there when the doors open at noon until they close at midnight.

Want to elevate your Stagecoach experience? Explore new tastes, sights, and sounds by going beyond the Stagecoach Music Festival for the ultimate country weekend.