Phish fans have started to trickle into town in anticipation of what some are calling an “epic” event.

While a majority of the concert-goers are expected to camp, many are staying at area hotels — helping fill rooms during a usually uneventful weekend.

“We're pretty much a sold-out hotel,” said Aaron Segal, general manager of the Best Western Date Tree Hotel. “The whole valley is going to be swamped with people.”

While his 118-room hotel on Indio Boulevard is full, others are reporting some last-minute cancellations.

“We were booked up a long time ago. We sold out. A week ago, we started getting cancellations and more this week. They probably changed their minds,” said Kenny Patel, general manager of Indio Travelodge.

Holiday Inn Express and Indio Super 8 also reported last-minute cancellations.

That surprised Segal, who said hotels nearby reported otherwise.

“Everyone that I spoke to around here is sold out,” he said. “This weekend will certainly help all the hotels out here.”

Empire Polo Club owner Alex Haagen III agrees.

“I think the impact is pretty dramatic with hotel rooms, gas stations, restaurants, certainly the markets, which will be selling them products,” he said.

Meanwhile, the city of Indio is preparing in its own way for the onslaught of traffic and crowds.

The city issued a permit for up to 60,000 people, but it is estimated that upwards of 40,000 are expected.

Ben Guitron, the public information officer for the Indio Police Department, said he could not disclose details on the number of officers assigned to cover the festival, but said it will be similar to previous concerts held at the Empire Polo Club.

“We're fortunate that we've had so many other concerts in our city and we are able to use the same template of operations,” he said.

Guitron said Indio police will receive law enforcement assistance from neighboring cities as they have with previous Coachella Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach: California's Country Music Festival concert weekends.

“Our law enforcement staff has been preparing for months,” he said. “We'll be just as vigilant. Any criminal activity won't be tolerated.”

There will be road closures, restrictions and alternate routes for roads near the Empire Polo Club. Delays are also expected on some of the main streets in the area including Jefferson and Monroe streets.

And as with the previous concerts, there is a curfew that Phish will have to abide by unless they want the promoter to incur a $1,000 a minute fee.

On Friday and Saturday the curfew is 12:30 a.m. — 30 minutes later than for Coachella Fest — and 11 p.m. on Sunday.

“We have an official. He pulls out his Timex; it's synchronized,” Guitron said.

“We have to adhere to that because that's the promise the City Council made to the community” for when the concert would end, he said.

Xochitl Peña covers Indio and Coachella for The Desert Sun. She can be reached at (760) 778-4647 or at xochitl.pena@thedesertsun.com.