By Kathryn Reed

SnowGlobe again is a mixed blessing – fun for those attending, a money-maker for businesses and the city of South Lake Tahoe, and an intrusive disturbance for some residents.

The three-day music festival started tonight. Attendees were out and about spending money at stores and restaurants, and could be seen walking to the Al Tahoe Boulevard venue.

It is sold-out all three nights, with 20,000 people expected each night. Last year 14,000 was the capacity. With the event being on the city’s new fields and not on Lake Tahoe Community College’s soccer field, there was enough room to increase guests by nearly 50 percent.

As of 9:30pm Dec. 29 the city had received 13 complaints on the hot line.

“It’s so loud and bass-y this year with the tree removal and expansion of the area. Worst year yet,” resident John Spinola told Lake Tahoe News.

According to the city’s website, acts on the main stage will end at 11:30pm Thursday and Friday nights and at 1am Sunday.

City Manager Nancy Kerry said that even though the music is within the allowable decibel range, the promoter scaled back the sound Thursday night.

“They have a contract; they have to adhere to our sound level,” Kerry told Lake Tahoe News. People with decibel readers walk the grounds, the perimeter and the level is measured from the stage. She said the sound readings are within the allowable level.

Some people wonder if the allowable level should be reconsidered.

Another contributing factor to the loudness outside the venue is that there is no snow. Snow absorbs the sound. Without the white stuff, the sound is traveling farther into the neighborhoods.

“In the house it alternates between wailing banshees and wondering if it’s time to find the tornado/hurricane shelter. It is remarkably loud out on the street and in my garage. Interesting to hear the difference with/without double pane windows, also sound dynamics of being upstairs or downstairs,” resident Diana Hamilton-Smith told Lake Tahoe News.

In previous years two stages were enclosed by a tent. This year only one of the three stages is in a tent. The smaller outdoor stage is pointed toward South Tahoe PUD instead of the mountains.