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- The Neon Carnival is Coachella‘s notorious, unofficial after-party.
- Exclusive and star-studded, the invite-only Neon Carnival attracts A-list guests, from Drake to Leonardo DiCaprio.
- Take a look inside the party and what it takes to bring it all together.
- Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival may have been dubbed the "the influencer Olympics" this year, but not everyone gets the invite to its notorious after-party — the Neon Carnival.
Every year, the Neon Carnival takes place in Thermal, California, on the Saturday of Coachella‘s first weekend. Helmed by LA nightlife entrepreneur Brent Bolthouse, the Neon Carnival is unaffiliated with Coachella but popular among the celebrities and fans who attend the music festival — Drake, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Rihanna have all been spotted there. Bolthouse heavily curates the list of A-list attendees, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
For the first time, the Neon Carnival will be expanding with a country version on April 27 for the Stagecoach Country Music Festival.
Last weekend, the desert got that much hotter as the event celebrated its 10th anniversary, and the rager looked as wild as ever. Take a look inside the party and what goes on behind the scenes.
The Neon Carnival begins Saturday night and stops at 4 a.m. Sunday morning. "I want people to come to us after Coachella, not during Coachella," Bolthouse told The Wrap. "That’s a big part of the reason why we start late and we go late."
Getty Images For Neon Carnival
Source: The Wrap
"It takes a tremendous amount of resources to make Neon Carnival happen," Bolthouse said — namely, a million-dollar budget.
Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images
Source: Hollywood Reporter
True to its name, the Neon Carnival features carnival games and rides — like a Ferris wheel and bumper cars — with a dance party.
Michael Bezjian/Getty Images
Source: Hollywood Reporter
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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Source: Business Insider – hhoffower@businessinsider.com (Hillary Hoffower)