Weekend Festival returns to Vermo in summer 2024 – event plans are available for residents’ comments
Weekend Festival will be held once again in Vermo at the first weekend of August. Local residents are welcome to comment on the event plans, in particular the length, noise level and waste management of the event.
Music event Weekend Festival will be held for the second time at Vermo Areena in Leppävaara, Espoo, on 2–3 August 2024. The festival includes performances from a variety of electronic music artists and a fireworks show on Friday and Saturday.
The event organiser, All Things Live Finland Oy, has filed a noise notification for the festival with the Environment and Building Control Department of Espoo. Enclosed with the notification is the event’s noise model and noise level measurement plan as well as a notice for local residents.
The event has three stages for performances. The organiser has assured that they will do their best to minimise the harm caused to those living close to the event venue.
According to the noise notification, the event’s sound reproduction will be tested on Thursday 1 August between noon and 9 p.m. On Friday 2 August and Saturday 3 August, the sound reproduction will be tested between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The event programme will begin at 3 p.m. and end at midnight with the fireworks show on both days.
Bass frequencies to be limited separately
This year, a provision has been added to outdoor event noise notification decisions to limit the intensity of low frequencies of music noise (bass) by means of C frequency weighting. This reform sets limit values for music noise, and noise must be measured by both A and C frequency weighting. This is expected to reduce the noise nuisance experienced by people living close to the event venue.
Residents are invited to comment on noise levels and waste management
The residents of the areas surrounding Vermo and other interested parties have once again an opportunity to give their opinion on the event’s waste management and noise levels. The event’s surrounding areas include Perkkaa and Mäkkylä in Espoo as well as Pitäjänmäki in Helsinki. According to the noise notification, the event will cause noise in these areas in particular.
The comments must be delivered in writing to the Espoo Registry Office by 3.45 p.m. on 19 July. The written comment must include the person’s name and address as well as the record number. The address is mandatory information as only the residents in the specified areas are actual interested parties.
The City of Espoo Environmental Supervision will make the noise notification decision based on the residents’ comments and the event organiser’s response. In addition to noise, the decision provides guidelines for informing the local residents, organising waste management and managing littering in the area.
“The aim of the hearing is to minimise harm to the residents. It gives the residents an opportunity to influence the event arrangements. We expect the event organiser to control and monitor event-related noise nuisance and littering,” says Maria Myllynen, Head of Control at Espoo Environmental Protection.
Organiser answers questions about the event plans
The organiser of Weekend Festival, All Things Live Finland, answers the most frequently asked questions about the event on its website. Noise complaints may be filed with the organiser during the event. The organiser will inform the local residents of the event and provide contact details for noise complaints.
The noise notification with appendices and the instructions for the hearing are available on the City of Espoo’s website (in Finnish) until 19 July. The Espoo Registry Office will receive written comments until 3.45 p.m. on 19 July 2024. The comment must include the person’s own name and address as well as the record number 2564/11.01.04/2024.