Dozens arrested during large music festival in Grimes County

Thousands flocked to the Texas Renaissance Festival fairgrounds this past weekend for a massive music festival called Middlelands.

Those who live near the site aren't happy with the noise.

"I had no idea, I had no idea it was going to be here, next thing I knew...I heard the music," said James Best.

He's referring to Middlelands, a large music festival that took place right next to his neighborhood over the weekend. He said he knew moving to the area they would have Renaissance traffic nearby, but he did not expect this.

"All of the sudden you hear the music just started loud, loud every night. Sometimes it would go to 5:00 in the morning. Just boom boom boom," said Best.

Best wasn't the only resident that was surprised by the event.

The Grimes County Sheriff's Office said they received many calls about the three-day Electronic Dance Music festival put on by Insomniac and C3.

With help from other law enforcement agencies, 42 arrests were made.

"These arrests were mostly for drug related offenses – possession of ecstasy, LSD, cocaine, and marijuana," said Grimes County Sheriff's Office Investigator Kindale Pittman.

The sheriff's office said while they can make arrests for criminal activity, it's difficult to keep the noise down.

"We do as best as we can but ultimately we're kind of restricted on the large scale of event that it is," said Pittman.

Grimes County does not have an adopted noise ordinance. There is only a state law that states a noise not to exceed 85 decibels.

KBTX reached out to Insomniac for a comment, but have not heard back.

While it's unsure if the event will return, nearby residents are hoping this was a one-time thing.

"If I had my say about it, I wouldn't want them to come back," said Best.

Neighbors in the surrounding area told KBTX they plan on approaching the county about adding sound ordinances.