Every year, I can feel the deep bass from the Electric Forest festival inside my home, even though I live about 10 miles from the festival grounds. What many people see as just a weekend music festival has a very real impact on surrounding communities, especially Rothbury and its residents.

This year, the tragic discovery of a deceased full-term newborn in a portable restroom at the festival raised serious questions about public safety at an event of this size. While the investigation is ongoing and all of the facts have not yet been released, this heartbreaking incident underscores the need for a transparent review of whether Electric Forest can continue to operate safely in our community.

Beyond this tragedy, residents have long voiced concerns about excessive noise that carries for miles, heavy traffic, overloaded cell phone service and internet connectivity, pressure on local infrastructure, and the demands placed on law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical responders. Many residents feel these concerns have not received the attention they deserve.

We are asking local officials to conduct a comprehensive, fact-based review before approving future Electric Forest permits. That review should include input from residents, local businesses, law enforcement, emergency medical services, public safety officials, and local governments to determine whether the festival remains appropriate for this location and what additional safeguards, if any, are necessary to protect the community.

This petition is not about assigning blame while an investigation is underway. It is about ensuring that our community's safety, quality of life, and voice are given the consideration they deserve before future decisions are made.

If you believe our community deserves transparency, accountability, and meaningful public input regarding the future of Electric Forest, please sign this petition and share it with others. Together, we can encourage responsible decisions that protect both residents and visitors while preserving the character and well-being of our community for future generations.

Since Electric Forest began, there have been multiple serious incidents associated with the festival, including a confirmed drug overdose death in 2016, the disappearance of attendee Kevin Graves in 2018 whose remains were identified in 2025, the death of an attendee during the 2026 festival, and the tragic discovery of a newborn in the festival campground in 2026. These incidents, together with the strain on local emergency services and the impact on surrounding residents, warrant an independent review of whether the festival remains appropriate for our community.