Bumpin’ house music, multi-colored banners, packed pools, and giant inflatable donuts, swans, and popsicles were just some of the many things we saw and experienced during our weekend at Splash House. As soon as we set foot at the pool stage, we immediately understood – Splash House is one of the most unique, down-to-earth, and crazy-fun music festivals out there!
The reasons? Take a well-curated electronic music lineup that would satisfy the biggest house head to the most casual club goer, combine it with a giant hotel pool party in an artsy high-desert community, and you get a weekend of good times and amazing music.
Sounds like fun, and you’re intrigued! This is where the Ultimate Splash House Survival Guide comes into play. This guide provides a comprehensive look into a weekend at Splash House, including what to expect, what to do, and what to bring. Read through to make sure you’re making the most of your epic weekend in Palm Springs!
Image courtesy of Splash House Gallery
What Is Splash House?
Splash House is a music festival that takes place in Palm Springs, at the pools of several well-known hotels in the area. With roughly 5,000 attendees, the festival is much smaller and more chill than mega festivals such as Coachella. Splash House also offers two editions each year (a weekend in June and a weekend in August) with entirely different lineups of mainly electronic music spanning multiple styles.
Think of Splash House as a cooler and more laidback version of Vegas day clubs, a “more unpretentious pool party,” as one of the co-founders describes it. Attendees typically book a hotel & ticket package and spend the entire weekend enjoying the parties happening simultaneously at the Splash House pools. A free shuttle line runs continuously between all the hotels, so once you’re settled in, it’s a non-stop party all weekend long!
The Music & Schedule
Each day, the music starts at noon and ends at 9pm, with producers and DJs playing sets ranging from an hour to hour-and-a-half. The year we went, the June edition headliners included Duke Dumont, Zhu, and What So Not. Some other well-known producers our weekend included Justin Martin, Chris Lake, Kasbo, and Dusky.
Chet Porter playing at Splash House. Photo cred: Tricia
As expected, the electronic music leans more heavily towards house (think Dirtybird and tech/G-house), but there was still a good variety of other sub-genres. I noticed that the daily schedule for the hotels was sometimes organized for a particular style or sound. And the August edition our year definitely had more of an electro and future bass representation.
So all in all, I’d say Splash House offers a smartly-curated lineup with diverse acts spanning across the electronic music spectrum, and each weekend has something a little different to offer. Not a bad deal!
Hotels & Shuttles
Splash House takes place at several Palms Springs hotels, which has rotated over the years but currently includes the Saguaro, the Renaissance, and the Riviera. We stayed at the Riviera and had a blast, and I’m pretty sure booking any of the hotel options would make a great weekend.
Reserving a room with a pool-facing balcony is one of the most popular things to do. From decorating the balcony to hosting a mini party to catching your favorite DJ without the crowds, scoring a balcony guarantees a VIP weekend. But you definitely don’t need one to make the most of your time there. Even if you do book a balcony, you’ll still likely want to cool off in the pool or dance with the crowd up close.
A weekend pass will also get you free shuttles that run all weekend, taking you to the other Splash House hotels and pool stages. The shuttle lines are well-managed with free water bottles, and the shuttle ride itself is a party, with music blasting, strangers chatting, and people balancing their giant floaties. We had no issues with the shuttles that entire weekend.
Riviera Pool at Splash House
Getting There
The most direct way to get to Splash House is to fly into Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) and take an Uber/Lyft to your hotel. Sometimes the ticket prices are better at airports further out, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Ontario International Airport (ONT).
Our group flew into LAX and rented cars for the weekend. The drive to Palm Springs from LAX is around a couple hours, and renting cars gave us the flexibility to explore Palm Springs for pre-party brunch and eat around LA before our return flight the Monday after. But note that there’s an additional small parking fee to pay at the hotel if you rent a car.
The Essential Packing List
It’s going to be a memorable weekend at Splash House, but it’ll only get better if you pack the right stuff. Here are some essential things to bring:
- Bathing suits – The possibilities are endless. Ladies, some ideas here. And gentlemen, some suggestions here.
- Flip flops – You can leave your flip flops along with your cover-ups somewhere off to the side. They’re especially great when the pool deck is scorching hot or you have to walk to the shuttle.
- Pool floaties – How about a rainbow unicorn? Or giant donut? Or pink flamingo? Pool floaties will make your time in the pool much more enjoyable. Just keep them smaller than 4’x4′ max, or they won’t let you bring them in.
- Air pump – They’ll have some at the pools, but using your own manual air pump beforehand saves a bunch of time.
- Sunblock – It was 105 degrees the weekend we went, and the sun was out full force all day. Get a higher-SPF and waterproof sunblock and your skin will thank you later.
- Sunglasses – It’s bright out, and you’ll be in and out of the pool. Why not pick up a cheaper pair of stylish sunglasses?
- Aloe gel – If you get sunburned, having aloe gel or lotion is clutch. And if you don’t get burned, you can still be a hero to your sunburned friends!
- Waterproof phone pouch – A game changer. Picking up a solid waterproof phone pouch allows you to take pictures and stay in contact with your friends, even in the pool.
- Cash, ID, & credit card – Throw these in your waterproof phone pouch. You’ll need the ID and money for poolside drinks, and some food stands are cash only.
Remember, try to minimize the amount of stuff you bring to the pool. There are lockers available to rent there, but why wait in line when you can be enjoying the music and pool?
Splash House Crew! Photo cred: Tricia
Things to Do
The name Splash House is pretty self-explanatory – you’re at a pool party listening to house music. So have fun with your group, make new friends, and send good vibes!
In the morning, try out a brunch spot in Palm Springs. There are a ton of amazing restaurants within a few miles of the hotels, and there are no huge crowds or waits like there are around Coachella time. I’d recommend FARM, Cheeky’s, and Workshop Kitchen. After the last set of the day, a lot of people will keep the party going in their hotel rooms or catch additional sets at the After Hours shows at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
After Hours happens Friday and Saturday nights and requires a separate ticket, but with producers such as Nora En Pure, SNBRN, and the Black Madonna, you know it’s going to be music heaven. Think clubbing, but in the open air with vintage aircraft in the backdrop.
After Splash House, why not take a day off and explore Palm Springs or Joshua Tree? There are tons of fun activities and things to check out. And you could always stop by LA for a bit, too.
The Bottom Line
I’ve been to over 25 music festivals now, and Splash House is truly a breath of fresh air. I love how it’s able to put together such an epic party without compromising on the music and good vibes. It’s super accessible and priced right, and anyone looking to have a good time most definitely will at Splash House!
In the beginning there was Jack at www.RandomTidbitsofThought.com.
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