Gold Country Fairgrounds addresses noise complaints before Dry Diggings Festival

Dry Diggings returns to the Gold Country Fairgrounds for three days of music from Friday through Sunday this weekend, and before you groan about the noise, the fairgrounds and Auburn city officials have made significant changes. Both received multiple calls during last year's first appearance of Dry Diggings in Auburn, because of the volume and late hours. "As I have said before, the success of the fairgrounds is important to the overall well-being of the city," City Manager Sean Rabé said. "We are hoping this year's event will be better coordinated between all parties involved and we are actively working with the fairgrounds leadership to ensure the event's impact on the surrounding community is as mitigated as much as possible." Gold Country Fairgrounds CEO Don Ales was confident in the changes that have been made as an anticipated crowd of 3,000 arrives in Auburn to watch more than 30 reggae bands perform, including a mystery guest Friday. First and foremost, the music will not be held on the ball field – at street level – as it was last year. Bands will set up on the two stages used during the Gold Country Fair. As most Auburn residents know, the fairgrounds floor sits lower than the parking lot and ball field, and it's surrounded by trees and buildings. "We've moved the music into the center of the fairgrounds so we're taking it away from the perimeter (which is) closer to where the houses are," Ales said. "We're also orienting the speakers so they're less likely to create carry. We're taking it serious. We're trying to improve." Ales added the stage last year included "ginormous speakers probably 20 feet in the air. "That creates for a lot more noise when you're in the ball field," he said. "It's literally going straight across into the homes in the neighborhood." Ales recalled a similar issue when a concert was held in the parking lot during the COVID shutdown. Pointing the speakers in different directions helped with the noise. Meanwhile, the Auburn Police Department has met with CHP, fairgrounds officials and organizers, set ground rules and advised them of city noise ordinances. Chief Ryan Kinnan said Auburn PD will have additional staff on duty under the city's grants for DUI efforts. CHP Auburn also will have additional staff, and there will be private security for the festival. "Our focus will be primarily in the late evening hours after the 11 p.m. time frame," Kinnan said. Camping on the fairgrounds will be limited to 80. Kinnan said traffic congestion is expected along High Street at the entrance gate beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, with heavy traffic again Monday morning as concertgoers depart. Said Ales, "I think Dry Diggings will be a hit for everybody."