Espoo permits noise and fireworks for Weekend Festival at Vermo

Espoo has approved the Weekend Festival's request to generate significant noise and fireworks, allowing the event to proceed with strict limitations. The festival is scheduled for July 31 to August 1 at the Vermo Racetrack parking area.

While noise is permitted, it will be subject to stringent regulations. Testing of sound equipment is allowed on Thursday, July 30, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. On the main festival days, Friday and Saturday, noise is permissible from 11 a.m. until midnight. Fireworks on both July 31 and August 1 must conclude no later than 11:59 p.m. Additionally, the festival's spotlights and light effects must not cause unreasonable disturbance to local residents and should not be directly aimed at apartments.

This decision follows a previous complaint about festival noise to the European Court of Human Rights by a resident near Vermo. The state had previously argued that "mere ten hours of noise nuisance per day for two days in 2023 is not a disturbance that exceeds the normal disturbances associated with living in a modern city." The festival relocated to Vermo in 2023.

The festival organizers, All Things Live Finland Oy, have submitted noise notifications to Espoo annually and received approval in previous years, with the noise being considered temporary. However, the organizers did receive a warning from Espoo's environmental protection department before this year's event due to a late submission of their waste management plan, which arrived less than 30 days before the festival.

Espoo is also planning to develop the Vermo area into a suitable event arena for large concerts.