Not that I’m counting or anything, but Coachella Valley Music Festival is exactly 3 days, 13 hours, and 46 minutes away from the writing of this post, and as some might recall from this and this, I am very, very, VERYVERYVERY excited. So you’ll have to excuse me if this week is RIDDLED with posts about and references to the year’s biggest music fest.

Because it’s Monday, and Monday is the Official Day of Being Responsible, I thought I’d start the week with a Coachella packing checklist, something I have seen very little of online. It makes sense, though, because people who stumble into Coachella tend to be the types that are okay with cooking with a tent stake instead of a spatula*.

SO, LET’S BEGIN. Here is your Coachella 2012 Checklist, or what I am dubbing your COA-CHECKLIST.

First off, here are the

things you absolutely, positively, must CHECK-CHECK-DOUBLECHECK before you walk out the door:

-entrance wristband
– car camping sticker/camping pass (if you’re camping)
– money (preferably cash)
– fully charged cell phone and phone charger – the festival has a few designated stations to charge your phone
– ID if you plan to drink inside

Clothes: (note: this checklist is for WEEKEND ONE of Coachella, which happens to list rain as a potential forecast on Friday… you dummies guys that bought Weekend Two passes should judge for yourselves which type of clothes to bring depending on the weather forecast for your weekend which will probably be 170 degrees, you dummies
– tanks, tees, & shorts
– jeans and sweatshirts
– outerwear
– underwear
– bathing suit
– shoes & sandals
– socks
– cool & warm sleeping gear
– sunglasses, hat, other head gear

Toiletries
– toothbrush/paste
– chapstick
– mouthwash
– razor
– soap
– shampoo/conditioner
– SUNSCREEN
– DEODORANT, please for the love of god DEODORANT
– toilet paper (because port-a-johns are not well known for being well stocked or clean)
– hair brush
– hair products/ties/clips
– body lotion
– condoms
– IBUPROFEN
– baby wipes/hand sanitizer, because it gets nasty out there in the polo fields

Are you camping? WELL THEN WE GOT SOME MORE FOR YOU:

– tent
– air mattress
– pillows & blankets
– small boom box & batteries
– a grill (propane only, NO CHARCOAL [also only allowed in car camping!])
– grilling gear
– lanterns
– eating utensils
– ear plugs, eye mask: because it’s both loud and bright at 7 am every morning. If you plan to sleep, these are key (if you don’t plan to sleep, then um, good luck with that)

FOOD:
– WATER WATER WATER
– beer (remember, no glass or liquor is allowed in the campground)
– breakfast and lunch fixings (I like eggs, bacon, toast, or breakfast burritos in the morning, and sandwiches for lunch)
– snacks (trail mix, fruit, granola bars, etc)
– instant coffee
– Pedialyte, Gatorade, or coconut water, because you WILL be dehydrated every morning.

Other fun things to bring:
– body paint
– a small towel or sheet to sit on in the festival
– glow sticks (they’re not just for the ravers!)
– flags, banners, etc for your camp area (they all look the same, so something to distinguish yours is a good idea!)
– fanny pack or small drawstring backpack for inside the grounds

Can you think of anything I missed? Let us know in the comments!

*true story