Inside the Starbucks House at Coachella: Unicorn Frap, Glitter Freckles, and a DJ
Coachella Weekend 2 · 6 min read
If you have never been, one of the best-kept secrets of Coachella is the brand activations. These are the free pop-ups and lounges scattered around, and they are equal parts marketing, air conditioning, and pure fun. My favorite this year was the Starbucks House, and I want to walk you through it because it was genuinely one of the highlights of the trip, for a reason I did not expect.
Walking into the Starbucks House
From the outside it looked like a sleek dark building with tall glowing light strips and the Starbucks siren crown up top, framed by palm trees and that perfect desert sunset. Inside, it was a completely different world: purple and rainbow neon washing over the ceiling, soft blue carpet, mirrored walls spelling out STARBUCKS, and a cool rush of air conditioning that felt like a gift after the sun.
There was a live DJ in a green Starbucks apron spinning the whole time, shelves styled with the Starbucks 1971 exclusives (the specialty coffee bags and mugs), and digital art walls with frappuccino graphics that were made for photos. It genuinely felt like a little party you could duck into, cool off, and come out with something cute.
The unicorn frap and cake pop
The star of it, obviously, was the drink. I got a unicorn frappuccino, all swirly pink and purple with whipped cream, plus a matching unicorn cake pop. They even wrote "Day One" on my cup, which is exactly the kind of small touch that makes a moment feel special. If you catch these activations early in the day, the drinks and treats tend to change depending on when you go, so it is worth popping in more than once.
Glitter freckles on the way in
Right as we walked in, they had Fazit glitter freckles, those press-and-peel patches covered in tiny star speckles that give you that effortless festival-glam look in about ten seconds. I am a little obsessed. It is the easiest way to level up a Coachella look without a full glam routine, and it lasted for hours in the heat.
The part that meant the most
Here is what actually made this stop special, and it has nothing to do with the frap. A dear friend of mine is part of the team behind this, and she is one of the most brilliant people I know. Getting to walk into something she helped bring to life, find her in the middle of the chaos, hug her, and tell her how amazing she is doing was the real highlight. I look up to her more than she probably realizes. Seeing her shine in her element made the whole activation feel personal in the best way.
Get festival-ready
The belt bag, portable charger, mini fan, and comfort pieces that got me through the desert (and every activation line) are in my Amazon storefront.
See my Amazon picks → As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.More from the trip
Catch up on our arrival day (and the shuttle pass scramble), and how we pulled the whole trip together in our full Coachella planning guide.
Frequently asked questions
Was there a Starbucks activation at Coachella?
Yes, the Starbucks House was one of the brand activations at the festival. It was an indoor, air-conditioned lounge with a live DJ, drinks and treats, photo-op walls, and exclusive Starbucks 1971 items on display.
What did the Starbucks House have?
A unicorn frappuccino and unicorn cake pop, a live DJ, neon photo walls, the Starbucks 1971 exclusive coffee and mugs, and a Fazit glitter freckle station on the way in.
Are Coachella brand activations free?
The activations I visited were free to walk into and often included free drinks, treats, or beauty freebies. They are also a great way to cool off in the air conditioning between sets.
What are the glitter freckles everyone has at Coachella?
They are Fazit glitter freckle patches, press-and-peel makeup patches with tiny star speckles that give you instant festival glam and last for hours.
Janet
Orlando mom, creator, and festival lover behind Planet Janet TV. I share the real travel, finds, and outfits I actually use. Come say hi on Instagram.
How we planned the whole trip
Hotel, flights, rental car, VIP, and shuttle, the real behind-the-scenes.
Read the planning guide →