When you can’t go to the party, make the party come to you. Amirite?
Coachella is one of the biggest arts and music festivals on the calendar with hundreds of thousands (we’re not joking!) flocking to Indio, California over two weekends in April to camp, dance and party. While there’s still a chance for you to nab a cheap last-minute trip to Coachella, those planning to keep it local this US-festival season shouldn’t have to suffer Coachella FOMO because of it.
The solution? Host a Coachella party in your own backyard!
The festival is all about fashion, music, the arts and teepees - so here’s how to tick off each of those boxes for a Coachella themed party to rival the real thing.
Feature image: Coachella Instagram
1. The Fashion: Enforce a Bohemian-only rule
Coachella fashion is a thing. A BIG thing.
While perennial favourites like denim cutoff shorts, bohemian everything and ankle boots will always be welcome at the festival, each year a new trend always surfaces and breaks the Internet. In 2015 the Kendall Jenner and Victoria Justice brought out the crop tops. In 2013 it was all about prints with Solange Knowles stealing the show in a bright lemon print and in 2011 let’s not forget Vanessa Hudgens rocking the thigh necklace.
Enforce that your guests Bohemian everything and your party is half done!
Hot tip: pretty much Spell Design everything. It is bohemian central and it's Australian as well!
2. The Music: Download the tunes
The lineup at Coachella 2016 to put it mildly is MASSIVE. Hit up iTunes and download all the songs from the biggest players which include: Bat For Lashes, Calvin Harris, Chvrches, Cold War Kids, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Elle Goudling, Ice Cube, Major Lazer, Miami Horror, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Of Monsters and Men, Pete Yorn, Rancid, Sia, St German and The 1975.
Kick it up a notch by downloading the Coachella mobile app where you can virtually tour the grounds (perhaps you can set up your backyard to resemble it?) and watch interviews and performances throughout throughout the festival.
Alternatively, you can check out this Spotify playlist that we prepared earlier:
3. The Arts: Light up your backyard
As Coachella is an arts and music festival an important part of the landscape are the larger than life sculptures that decorate the festival grounds. We’re talking gorgeous butterfly, caterpillar and snail light installations and that iconic Ferris wheel.
We’re not saying you should install a Ferris wheel in your backyard, but a few novelty light installations never hurt a fly… or a butterfly. Check out the animal lights at Yellow Octopus to get your imagination going.
4. The Teepees: Buy #alltheteepees
Similar to Glastonbury in the UK, the camping style of choice at Coachella is by teepee.
To Coachella like a boss, you’ll need to book into the Lake Eldorado campsite, which boasts a 24-hour concierge service and 4-person teepee tents on the banks of a lake, or up your game and nab a spot in the exclusive Safari Tent area, which comes with air-conditioned tents and golf-cart shuttles to the stages.
Make it a colourful teepee affair at your party and scatter teepees and tents decked out in plush pillows and patterned throws for your guests to crash, mingle and enjoy the festival vibe in.
5. Festival food it
It's not a party without food. At Coachella the fare is notably of the food truck and carnival type. Hit up the party food sections at online supermarkets like Woolworths and Coles and then stock up on the drink at Dan Murphys.
Now all that’s left to do is send out your invites and get your Coachella ON!
