Farkas throws midnight tantrum over opposition to noise restrictions
“I was elected to stand up for Calgarians, not to take orders from wealthy donors, lobbyists, or politicians protecting their friends," Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas said on X.
Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas couldn’t handle the province speaking their mind on new bylaws restricting summer fun. “It’s time to cut through the bullshit about the Cowboys tent,” he said during a late-night rant posted to X.
“Stampede succeeds because Calgarians welcome millions of people into our city. That goodwill matters,” Farkas said. “A few operators do not get to treat neighbours like garbage and damage the reputation of an event that belongs to all of us.”
“As your mayor I’m fighting for you. I want you to know that a permit is not a licence to bully a neighbourhood.”
Mentions of the Cowboys tent put Penny Lane Entertainment, organizer of the Cowboys Music Festival, in the crosshairs. Its CEO Paul Vickers has repeatedly called out the suddenness of these exemptions just weeks before Stampede.
A Jun. 15 permit for the 2026 Cowboys Music Festival tightened noise limits to 70 dB before midnight and 65 dB on weekends after midnight, down from the previous year.
Bylaw 32M2023 typically sets quiet hours (10 p.m.–7 a.m. weekdays, 10 p.m.–9 a.m. weekends/holidays) and noise limits of 65 decibels by day and 50 decibels at night, subject to exemptions.
“By now you’ve seen the coordinated smear campaign from out-of-town politicians,” Farkas said. “They think you’re stupid and want you to believe that we’re somehow cancelling Stampede by asking the big tents to use the same rules in place at Coachella, Lollapooloza and all the other world class festivals.”
“That’s the first piece of bullsh*t,” he continued. “We’re not talking about Stampede at all. We’re talking about a few off-site tents that have been treating their neighbors like garbage.”
Cities such as Miami, Austin and Coachella allow noise levels around 110–120 dB and often relax bylaws to attract festivals and their economic benefits, nearly double that of the Cowboy’s tent.
Vickers contends the stricter rules could discourage festivals like the nearly sold-out Cowboys Music Festival, headlined by Jason Aldean, Sean Paul and Jason Derulo.
“They’re definitely going to drive young people away because it’s a no-fun city,” he said. “When you get that label, it’s really hard to undo.”
“Young people don’t go out until later at night,” Vickers continued, adding his request is to maintain 2025 noise levels.
Late Monday afternoon, Premier Danielle Smith and her cabinet issued a scathing letter to Calgary City Hall following their sudden noise bylaw changes targeting Stampede music festivals.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs couldn’t be reached for comment before publication, but it is understood that the provincial cabinet could be assembled to decide if they will formally intervene, should City Hall remain intransigent.
Farkas instead doubled down, claiming the changes are “modest,” and that Calgary “still allows outdoor music later than anywhere else in North America.”
He also claimed this wasn’t a last-minute change. “The big tents knew in February that their exemption was under review,” he said. “Cowboys was told again in May. Their exemption depended on managing noise, safety, and impacts on nearby residents. They did not meet that standard.”
The mayor said thousands complained about the noise, though last year’s festival drew 126 311 complaints, according to media reports.
The province, in its letter, pledged deployment of additional public safety resources in a bid to assuage concerns from its municipal counterparts.
They also “strongly urged” a response by Jun. 30 outlining the steps being taken by the City of Calgary to address these concerns and engage affected stakeholders.
His Worship expressed a willingness to seek compromise and “work with operators who respect Calgarians,” but made clear that he answers to local workers.
“If you want to do business in Calgary, respect the people who live next door,” Farkas said.
Tourism Calgary CEO Alisha Reynolds warns the City’s changes to outdoor concert noise exemptions pose “immediate and serious risks” to the 2026 Calgary Stampede and Calgary’s visitor economy if not reversed.
The Calgary Stampede and its adjacent events draw nearly 1.5 million visitors annually, Alberta’s largest tourism event, supporting thousands of jobs and generating a broad economic impact beyond Stampede Park.
In 2025, Stampede activity generated $872M nationally and $664M in Calgary, including $190.7M in wages, supporting local hospitality, tourism, jobs, and businesses.
However, Farkas remains firm on his position against noise pollution. “I was elected to stand up for Calgarians,” he concluded, “[I will] not to take orders from wealthy donors, lobbyists, or politicians protecting their friends.”
As someone who worked in the audio industry for over 40 years I can tell you that 70.7 dB is a ridiculously low threshold. Just out of curiosity I broke out my old SPL (Sound Pressure Level) Meter which measures decibels. Sitting here at my computer I have some quiet background music playing and I can hear my cat purring beside me and the click of the keys on the keyboard. It reads 70.7 dB. If the meaurement is taken at the front of the stage, as these things tend to be, then the people 10 rows back wouldn't be able to hear the music! It's for a week and a half, people! The 126 people who complained need to get over themselves or go on vacation for Stampede week! It they can afford to live within earshot of the Cowboys Park they can afford a nice vacation elsewhere!