After a semester of overcast skies and torrential downpours, the upcoming weekend might be the first true weekend of spring.
Many students will make the trek from Los Angeles all the way out to Indio, California for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the biggest music festival in the nation. But that’s not the only draw for students this weekend.
The annual USC spring football game kicks off at noon Saturday, and the forecast is calling for clear skies and sunshine.
Following a very successful bounceback 2022 season for the football team, there is much for students to be excited about.
Returning USC star quarterback Caleb Williams will be honored at halftime for winning the Heisman Trophy, the highest honor bestowed upon the nation’s most outstanding quarterback.
“He’s an integral part of the team, and he’s going to be a renowned player in the NFL,” said junior entrepreneurship major Sebastian Bustamante. “He seems like a really good guy and he’s a big part of the community. So it is important to honor that and his commitment to the team.”
The excitement surrounding the game is not limited to the play on the field and the halftime ceremony. Festivities at the game will include a variety of food trucks, photo opportunities and giveaways.
Tickets to the game are free for students.
Coachella, the annual desert music festival in Indio, will also kick off this Friday.
Bad Bunny, Blackpink and Frank Ocean are headlining the desert festival. Other performances include Kali Uchis, Dominic Fike and The Kid Laroi.
Tickets, which sell for quite a bit more than the free price tag of the USC spring game, are already sold out for the first weekend of the festival, but can still be purchased for the second weekend.
Freshman popular music major Eyen Paredes says that while others are at Coachella, she’ll be performing gigs of her own.
“If you can get tickets [to Coachella] it’s great, but tickets are really expensive now, and I think it’s a little overhyped,” Paredes said. “I’m playing at this ‘Women in the Music Industry Festival’ ... and then I’m also playing at an event here on campus.”
Sophomore communication major Robbie Andrews says that he is excited to see some of his favorite musicians perform at Coachella.
“I’s gonna be my first year,” Andrews said. “It’s a little bit stressful planning everything, figuring out my outfits, figuring out where I’m staying, but as of now I’m staying with a bunch of friends, so I’m really happy.”
For many students, the gripe with going to Coachella seems to be with the price of the festival.
“It’s just a lot of money and going there for a couple of days is not really my scene,” sophomore chemical engineering major Laura Garcia said. “I do love some of the artists that are headlining there. That would be a fun experience to get to eventually, but also since I have a midterm next week, that’s not happening.”
It came a bit late, but spring is finally here on the USC campus, and the students are taking advantage before it leaves again.