Tonight is the night thousands of young music lovers have been waiting for.
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The Forbes Showground gates open at 5pm for VANFEST 2017, which organisers say is going to be the biggest and best yet.
Ticket sales hit the 12,000 mark over the last weekend, Forbes accommodation booked out months ago and thousands are set up to camp at the showground.
Anticipation for the quality of acts to take the stage this year is huge.
Amy Shark – who performs Friday night - was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the ARIAs this week.
Tash Sultana, Dune Rats and others appearing this weekend were also shortlisted for ARIA honours, while Forbes’ own Vera Blue performed on the night.
Film footage from VANFEST itself was featured in the awards’ Best Live Act package presented by INXS.
On the local stage, Friday night’s line-up also includes Keefy, Manalion, Akouo, Muto, Yahtzel, Luke Million, Cosmos Midnight, Carmada and Discovery.
Saturday’s entertainment starts with Ox, manalion, Tigertown and Plgrms, Wilsonn, Dean Lewis and Mark Furze. Dune Rats, Thundamentals, San Cisco and Tash Sultana will take you into the night with Ember finishing the event.
Forbes showground has been a hive of activity all week and was on Thursday really taking shape as a festival venue with thousands of guests expected.
The iconic stage was up, and plans to have motocross riders jump the stage this year taking shape.
The sold-out VIP area, with a prime view of the stage, is set to go with jacuzzis and a mechanical surfboard in place.
Although the forecast of rain is on organisers’ radar, Matt Clifton says the show will go on.
It’s been 10 months of intense planning to get to this point and they will work with whatever the weather brings.
“We have plenty of shelter for sun or rain,” Clifton said.
Gates open at 5pm today and again at 1pm Saturday with entertainment through the night.
More information and last-minute tickets at vanfest.com.au Check out the two day program inside.
In its three years so far, Vanfest has brought more than 20,000 visitors to Forbes from 1941 postcodes – according to figures Mr Clifton presented to Forbes Shire Council.
That’s resulted in an estimated $4 million boost to the local economy.
It’s also reached more than 21 million people on social media.
Council has now signed a three-year lease to secure the event for Forbes.
