By Kari Mar
La Conner Community News
On a summer Sunday in La Conner, the music is supposed to drift easily — guitars humming, voices rising, people gathered in Gilkey Square with takeout lunches and a little more time than usual. It’s the kind of small-town ritual that feels both ordinary and essential.
But over the last few days, the music hit an unexpected (and many say, unreasonable) pause.
At the center of the conflict is a number: 55 decibels.
The figure surfaced in an addendum to a special event permit sent to Gloria Hulst of Skagit Cellars, the organizer behind La Conner Live, the nonprofit that has helped bring music to the town square. Hulst had applied months earlier for the permit, expecting routine paperwork. Instead, she received a condition requiring that all music remain at or below 55 decibels.
“In good faith, I can’t just sign that,” Hulst said. “There is literally nothing you can do to get it to that low of a level. At that point, I have to stop the music.”
Fifty-five decibels is roughly the volume of a quiet conversation. A live band — any live band — would exceed it.
The result was immediate. Hulst notified musicians via a post on Facebook. Some shows were canceled. Others remain uncertain. Bands regrouped and started to make new plans for those warm summery Sundays.
Hulst was clear, however, that the town did not tell her to cancel the music. She concluded that she had no choice but to do that with the noise level requirement.
While rumors flew on social media about the origin of the number, the actual answer is quite clear. Washington state’s administrative code sets the sound maximum in residential areas to 55 decibels. Its rules for commercial and industrial areas are 60 decibels and 65 decibels, respectively.
In the absence of specific direction in the town code, officials defer to the WAC.
Town officials acknowledge the confusion.
“We made a mistake,” said Mayor Marna Hanneman. “We followed Washington code, and we didn’t go deeper to find out how absurd it was” when applied to the Sunday concerts. In no way, she said, did the town intend to stop the music, and officials are actively looking for solutions.
For now, conversations are ongoing. Organizers, musicians, and town officials are trying to find a path forward — one that balances community concerns with the reality of live performance.
Hulst remains measured, even hopeful.
“We need to come together and have a discussion to find the line so we can continue to have the music series,” she said. “I’m not going to storm the city council meeting. That’s not who I am. We’ll find a spokesperson. We’ll work through this.”
She paused, then added what felt like the heart of it.
“We love La Conner. This has nothing to do with business. It has everything to do with helping La Conner survive,” Hulst said.
The concert series usually begins in late May. For now, the guitars are quiet. But if the town’s history is any guide, the music — and the conversation around it — is far from over.
Kari Mar is the editor and publisher of La Conner Community News.
