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Council approves noise exemption for Zion Canyon Music Festival until 10 p.m.; organizer must limit impacts
Summary
The council granted a noise exemption permit allowing amplified outdoor music until 10 p.m. for the Zion Canyon Music Festival at the Bit and Spur restaurant in September 2025, and required the organizer to take reasonable measures to limit impacts on surrounding properties.
The Springdale Town Council on July 9 approved a noise-exemption permit that allows amplified outdoor music for the Zion Canyon Music Festival at the Bit and Spur restaurant (1212 Zion Park Boulevard) to operate until 10 p.m. in September 2025.
Town staff explained the noise ordinance prohibits loud noise after 8 p.m. but allows the council to grant a limited exemption when the event provides community benefit and meets five standards in the code. Tom Danza (town staff) said the council should base any decision on those code criteria. The staff recommendation included a condition limiting the exemption to 10 p.m. and noted the organizer will still need a large outdoor event permit.
Alex Pelton, the event organizer, told the council he favors 10 p.m. to help keep visitors in Springdale and encourage evening spending: “I feel 10:00 is a pretty reasonable hour to have music playing,” he said, and said the festival draws workers and patrons who might otherwise leave town.
Neighboring business owners said the event produced loud sound last year. Mike Marriott (Resident) said his guests on a patio had to be moved indoors because of the volume. Pelton said he had notified about 30 addresses within roughly 600 feet by letter and would “keep the bass down and try to keep the speakers a little lower,” adding he would make reasonable efforts to limit noise impact.
Town staff said last year a single formal complaint was recorded and a handful of informal comments were received. Council discussion emphasized that the decision must rest on the noise‑exemption criteria in the code; several members noted the festival’s community value.
Action: Pat Campbell moved to approve the noise-exemption permit under the cited code section (staff referenced code subsection 4.3.b.2.c and subsection 4) and to require the applicant to take reasonable measures to limit noise impact; Jack Burns seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Conditions: The exemption is limited to amplified outdoor music until 10 p.m. on the permitted event dates; the organizer must obtain the town’s large outdoor event permit and use reasonable measures to limit nuisance to surrounding properties. Town staff will rely on the applicant’s outreach and the permit conditions to manage impact.
