Music festivals are a fun summer event, especially for college students. However, we don’t often consider their impact on surrounding homes through noise pollution. This is significant to health concerns because exposure to volumes of 85 dB can cause tinnitus or permanent hearing damage. Eau Claire City Councilman Aaron Brewster received complaints about noise levels from the Country Jam Music Festival, so we set out to investigate the validity of these claims on July 19, 2025. We measured noise levels during the final two performers of the night since we estimated they would draw the loudest crowds. Noise level readings were taken using the NIOSH SLM App on the eastern and southern borders of the grounds, near the neighboring homes, and readings within the grounds were taken using the Model 2800 Quest Technologies device. We found that noise levels met the conditions outlined in Country Jam’s conditional use permit, which say volume cannot exceed 85 dB for 30 minutes or longer. However, volume within the grounds did briefly reach upwards of 90 dB. Consequently, we advised that the festival offer complimentary earplugs and safety recommendations for attendees to protect their ears while having fun.
