War on fun? Stampede festivals cleared despite growing noise complaints
The vast majority of complaints were filed between 11 p.m. and midnight, according to City of Calgary data obtained by Juno News. So far, only one ticket has been issued.
The war on fun rolls on, with apparently malicious noise complaints climbing on days five and six of the Calgary Stampede. The Cowboys and Badlands tent logged 34 complaints Monday and 38 Tuesday, after the city received 70 during the festival’s first four days.
Calgary bylaw officials “strongly encourage” organizers to adjust decibel levels to comply with noise permits and avoid escalating enforcement.
Calgary’s Noise Bylaw 32M2023 sets quiet hours from 10 p.m. and noise limits of 65 dB by day and 50 dB at night, with exemptions granted through festival permits.
For 2026, Calgary tightened noise rules for outdoor music festivals, including Cowboys Music Festival, cutting the pre-midnight noise limit from 75 to 70 dBA, lowering bass levels and requiring concerts to end by midnight on weeknights and 1:30 a.m. on weekends.
The vast majority of complaints were filed between 11 p.m. and midnight, according to City of Calgary data obtained by Juno News. So far, only one ticket has been issued.
According to City data, Cowboys drew 27 complaints and one verbal warning Monday for exceeding noise limits at 11:53 p.m., while Badlands received seven complaints and one warning.
On Tuesday, Cowboys logged 36 complaints with no warnings, while Badlands received two complaints and one warning.
No tickets were issued on either day, though Badlands, an electronic dance music festival, was previously fined for exceeding allowable noise limits.
A City of Calgary bylaw spokesperson told Juno News that Cowboys Music Festival complied with its permit, with sound levels consistently below the allowable limit.
“Community Safety Peace Officers are out each night taking noise readings from nearby residential locations. We’re pleased to report that every noise reading taken for Cowboys Music Festival has been below their allowable maximum decibel limit as prescribed in their Noise Exemption Permit,” the spokesperson said.
A June 1 FM Systems review found Calgary’s bylaws make it virtually impossible to run a major outdoor festival, as crowd noise alone can exceed the 65 dB limit. By contrast, cities such as Miami, Austin and Coachella permit noise levels around 110–120 dB to support major festivals.
A City of Calgary spokesperson previously told Juno News the city supports festivals as an economic driver, while organizers warned the changes could cost thousands of seasonal jobs, saying “they want to put us into a sleepy veil.”
“This is not about choosing between residents and festivals,” said Penny Lane Entertainment CEO Paul Vickers, lead organizer of the Cowboys Music Festival.
“Residents deserve consideration and respect, and we support reasonable measures that balance all residents’ interests. It’s important to remember that many residents take great pride in living in a vibrant city with live events.”
Last year’s festival received 126 complaints through 311, but Penny Lane addressed noise concerns via a hotline instead of strict bylaw enforcement.