Kitchener council to rule on Ever After noise exemption April 1
Ever After Music Festival plans to run from Thursday June 6 to Sunday June 9
The Ever After Music Festival will have to wait until April 1 for council to make a decision on allowing a noise exemption, which would mean the event could add one more day to the electronic music event this June.
Ever After plans to run from Thursday, June 6 to Sunday, June 9 at Bingemans in Kitchener.
At the city's committee meeting on Monday, officials approved the noise exemption for the four days, but final say will come from city council on April 1.
In a report, city staff recommended the exemption be granted between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Thursday night, between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Sunday.
However, the festival plans to run to 11 p.m. on Sunday, two hours later than the exemption recommended.
Staff also recommended the maximum decibel level to remain at 55 dBA this year.
In 2017, the city received 130 noise complaints from nearby residents. That number dropped to only seven complaints in 2018 after the maximum decibel level dropped from 65 dBA to 55 dBA. The quieting was credited to a new sound dampening system installed by the event's organizers.
The proposed set-up for this year's music festival will look similar to 2018, with the main stage hosting international acts.
There will also be a silent concert club this year, where festival-goers can listen to a DJ through headphones.