Before a silent audience gathered in Victoria Park, troopers closed in on sleeping bushranger Ben Hall.

Onlookers flinched as shots rang out again ... and again ... and again. 

The reenactment, by the Lachlan Living History Group, kickstarted an afternoon of activities marking 150 years since Hall’s death.  

Forbes Shire Council’s marketing manager Sarah White said the festival had plenty of entertainment to offer through the afternoon. 

There was music, poetry and short dramatic pieces depicting the lives of bushrangers, troopers and gold miners from the day.

Tours in a horse-drawn wagon and bus tours of historic sites were very popular both with local families and interstate visitors. 

Headline act for the afternoon was Hall’s great great nephew Nigel Maclean.

Ms White said his performance was very popular with those in attendance, so it was a shame that crowd numbers from earlier in the day had not been sustained. 

The Ben Hall and Heritage Festival continues today, with the unveiling of interpretive panels at the site of the historic shooting. 

The event is open to the public, a bus will depart Town Hall at 10.30am. 

The much-anticipated preview of feature film, The Legend of Ben Hall, screens tonight at Town Hall at 7pm. 

Tickets are $20 - which includes champagne and canapes on arrival - and must be prebooked through council or stickytickets.com.au

The Forbes Family History Group has an open day today, from 10am to 6pm.

Tomorrow morning at 10am the Forbes Railway Arts and Craft Centre will launch the Forbes Cemetery Tour brochure and host a Biggest Morning Tea to raise funds for the Cancer Council.

Tomorrow from 6.30pm the Forbes Medical Centre will unveil panels honouring former doctors Dr Dyce and Dr Dent. RSVP is essential for this event to Forbes Shire Council.