Coachella, Stagecoach canceled for 2020

This year’s Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Riverside County health officials said Wednesday. 

The large festivals had previously been postponed from the spring to October, but the county said it will be canceling the events over concerns of a second wave of the virus in the fall. 

“I am concerned as indications grow that COVID-19 could worsen in the fall,” Riverside County Public Health Officer Cameron Kaiser said in a statement.  

Kaiser noted that events such as Coachella and Stagecoach would fall under California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) stage four of reopening, which will begin only once treatments or vaccines are available.

“Given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward,” Kaiser added. 

The county said officials have been in contact with Goldenvoice, which operates both Coachella and Stagecoach. 

As of Wednesday evening, Goldenvoice had not updated its website to reflect that the festivals had been canceled, per the county order. 

The Hill reached out to Goldenvoice for comment.