When it comes to Coachella events, you can guarantee there is one Leonardo Dicaprio will not miss: Neon Carnival presented by Levi’s.
And neither will we.
The Oscar winner (who wasn’t photographed at the event) has been on hand for nightlife mogul Brent Bolthouse’s adults-only fest every year since its inception, and he was right there again Saturday to help ring in Neon Carnival’s 10th anniversary.
Photo by: Shelly Fleming
This time around – just like every time he attends the carnival – DiCaprio went full incog mode, rocking a hooded sweatshirt, a baseball cap pulled low and shades to hide his face ( a look we’re stealing for days when we simply cannot). As he took a moment to chat with Bolthouse, Paris Hilton, Alessandra Ambrosio, Meek Mill, H.E.R. and more also made their way into the carnival and off to their private tables near the stage. (Top Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Neon Carnival).
Like Leo and the rest of the celebs on hand, we couldn’t resist spending our Saturday night at Neon either. It only took us one time – our first time attending the festival last year – to know that Coachella weekend wouldn’t have been a full Coachella weekend at all without going to Neon again.
THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 13: Paris Hilton attends the Levi’s Brand Presents Neon Carnival with Bondi Sands and POKÉMON: Detective Pikachu on April 13, 2019 in Thermal, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Neon Carnival)
As for what keeps him – and us – coming back? Neon (as it’s affectionately called by Coachella goers) is always one of the premiere events of the fest’s first weekend and one of the toughest to gain access to. The celeb-packed wonderland is filled with carnival rides, fun games with prizes, and free Don Julio cocktails to boot. It is always a blast.
Take a peek at everything you need to know about this year’s Neon Carnival at Coachella!
THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 13: View of atmosphere at the Levi’s Brand Presents Neon Carnival with Bondi Sands and POKÉMON: Detective Pikachu on April 13, 2019 in Thermal, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Neon Carnival)
There was a VIP Lounge: As we arrived at HITS Desert Park Saturday night, we entered into the new Heimat x Neon Carnival VIP lounge, a palm print-filled oasis of sorts, where VIPs like Janelle Monae mixed, mingled, and sipped cocktails before heading into the Carnival (and any other time they wanted to get away from the crowd).
Photo By: Shelly Fleming
There was also a beauty bar inside of it topped with illuminated mirrors and lined with glittery eyeshadows and beauty products that guests could use and take with them. We touched ourselves up, toasted to the night, and hit the carnival. It was life.
THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 13: Frankie Grande (R) and guest attend the Levi’s Brand Presents Neon Carnival with Bondi Sands and POKÉMON: Detective Pikachu on April 13, 2019 in Thermal, California. (Photo by Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Images for Neon Carnival)
The Games & Rides Brought Out Our Inner Kids: We danced our way inside, and made a beeline to the games, playing a beanbag toss game to take home Levi’s baseball caps and pouches, a squirt gun challenge to win stuffed kangaroos, a dart toss to nab more stuffed animals, and more!
THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 13: Nick Young attends the Levi’s Brand Presents Neon Carnival with Bondi Sands and POKÉMON: Detective Pikachu on April 13, 2019 in Thermal, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Neon Carnival)
As for the rides, a massive slide, the famed ferris wheel, and the bumper cars were just a few of the rides around the carnival. There was plenty to do to keep everyone entertained.
There Were Don Julio Open Bars & a Pizza Counter: Aside from the VIP open bar, there were also Don Julio Open Bars on the grounds serving up four signature cocktails: palomas, margaritas, and more, as well as a pizza counter slinging out slices of free cheese pizza.
THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 13: View of atmosphere at the Levi’s Brand Presents Neon Carnival with Bondi Sands and POKÉMON: Detective Pikachu on April 13, 2019 in Thermal, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Neon Carnival)
DJ Ruckus Killed It: The DJ kept guests on their feet as he cranked out his hop hop set. On the massive Neon Carnival stage. A-Trak also hit the stage to perform before the clock struck 4 a.m. and the event wrapped up.
THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 13: DJ Ruckus (L) and Alessandra Ambrosio attend the Levi’s Brand Presents Neon Carnival with Bondi Sands and POKÉMON: Detective Pikachu on April 13, 2019 in Thermal, California. (Photo by Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Images for Neon Carnival)
No One Plays it Small With Neon Carnival Fashion: A big part of Neon Carnival is what everyone wears to it. Guests get creative with their looks, serving up head to toe neon, distressed denim cut-offs, full sequin bodysuits and crop tops, plenty of cowboy hats and boots, and even illuminated masks. 2 Chainz even went all out, rocking a green sequined Gucci shorts look.
THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 13: Janelle Monáe attends the Levi’s Brand Presents Neon Carnival with Bondi Sands and POKÉMON: Detective Pikachu on April 13, 2019 in Thermal, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Neon Carnival)
Neon Carnival Is Invite Only: The event is free and there is no way to buy tickets for it. You must be invited,and you have to pick up your wristbands ahead of time. The majority of attendees grab theirs days before the fest in Los Angeles to avoid the hassle of picking them up in the desert. This also means wearing the wristband for days, but still…that is worth it. As for how to be one of the lucky Neon attendees, you have to be invited by the PR team running the show, win a wristband (the @neoncarnival IG is a good account to follow for those opps leading up to the fest, or have an in with Bolthouse productions or one of the sponsors to get access.
For the first time, Neon Carnival has added a second date – Saturday, April 27, for Stagecoach Festival. Those who are interested in attending can submit a guest list request, here.
THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 13: View of atmosphere at the Levi’s Brand Presents Neon Carnival with Bondi Sands and POKÉMON: Detective Pikachu on April 13, 2019 in Thermal, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Neon Carnival)
We Had a Little Too Much Fun With the Brand Activations: Levi’s teamed up with Bondi Sands and Pokemon Detective Pikachu for the event, which meant both brands had activations on hand for guests to enjoy. Aside from the life size Pikachus on the grounds to celebrate the first-ever live-action Pokemon movie, POKEMON Detective Pikachu (it debuts May 10), there was also an interactive gif Pikachu station, where guests could dance around on a platform with friends as they threw up palms full of paper confetti.
THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 13: A general view of atmosphere at the Levi’s Brand Presents Neon Carnival with Bondi Sands and POKÉMON: Detective Pikachu on April 13, 2019 in Thermal, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Neon Carnival)
Bondi Sands brought on the photo booth fun too with a cute pick-up truck gif station, and they also transformed he bumper car ride with an emblazoned neon sign installation. In addition, There was also an LG Mobile experience that celebrated the LG G8 ThinQ and the LG V50 ThinQ. It was a little creepy that US star Winston Duke was anywhere near a carnival, but he was front and center too, checking out the LG experience with friends.
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