Noise complaints up for Calgary Stampede music festivals: city

Crowds in line outside of the Cowboys Music Festival Tent in 2024.

The City of Calgary says the first four days of the Calgary Stampede have yielded dozens of noise complaints, with an increased number of complaints connected to two of the event’s biggest music festivals.

A Monday news release said the city has received 70 noise complaints for Stampede-related events across the city from July 2 to July 5.

Forty of those noise complaints concerned the Cowboys Music Festival, while 15 were connected to the Badlands Music Festival.

Other noise complaints included 15 calls for the National Saloon, five for Whiskey Rose and one for Mexifest.

City data shows the number of noise complaints related to the Cowboys and Badlands music festivals over the first four days of Stampede has increased from last year, with complaints increasing by one and nine calls, respectively.

The Cowboys Music Festival came under fire in the weeks preceding Stampede as residents complained about noise levels from the shows and crowds kept them up into the early morning hours.

This year, all music festivals outside Stampede Park are facing new restrictions, including a mandatory end time of midnight each day and noise maximums of 75 decibels and bass levels of 82 dBC.

Despite more noise complaints connected to Cowboys Music Festival this year, the city says the event has abided by the rules of its noise permit.

“We’re pleased to report that every noise reading taken for Cowboys Music Festival has been below their allowable maximum decibel limit as prescribed by their noise exemption permit,” the city said in a release.

The Badlands Music Festival, meanwhile, exceeded its allowable decibel limit after the city said it issued “multiple warnings” to event organizers.

The festival was issued a ticket on Sunday night, the city says.

“We strongly encourage event organizers to adjust decibel levels to comply with their noise exemption permit and to avoid escalating enforcement action,” the city said.

Stampede runs until July 12.