You know there's always going to be a few things that are at Tamworth Country Music Festival - buskers, campers and music to name a few - but there are a few things that are different at this year's festival.
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We've compiled a list of things that are new at this year's festival, or have gone missing from last year.
Giant water slides slip off the agenda
One of the biggest hits at last year's festival were the giant inflatable water slides at AELEC.
Owner Jesse McDonald brought Big Splash Water World to TCMF last year but said a lack of water meant they weren't able to make it in 2020.
The slides use reclaimed run off water from the horse arena which is then treated through a chlorinated computerised programme but there wasn't even going to be enough of that to get the slides running.
"We'd like to be there but there's just not enough reclaimed run off water," Mr McDonald said.
"Hopefully there's a bit of rain and we're back next year."
Festival Fringe
This program is set to expand the evening entertainment on offer at TCMF, with bright and colourful performers filling Kable Avenue and Fitzroy Street.
There will be performers each night starting as early as 5.15pm and sometimes finishing after 10pm.
There will also be free face painting available from 7pm to 9pm.
Performers
- Pandora Pink is a skilful clownesque cigar-box and sassy hat routine
- Une One of Many is a master manipulator of mallets
- Mr Spin performs a highly skilled, comic vaudevillian style street/circus act
- The Doogans pay tribute to the classic vaudevillian greats of the 20th century
- Fire and Light are professional LED and fire performers
- Bendy Em performs a comedy contortion street performance show
- The Unicycling Unicorn entertains with her amazing unicycle skills
- Janna Wohlfarth is a circus artist specialising in unicycling and hat juggling
Misters are no more
The misters up Peel Street provided relief for festival-goers in 2019 but they won't make an appearance this year in an effort to conserve ever drop of water possible.
Luckily, the weather outlook indicates lower temperatures and rain is coming this year so a lack of misters shouldn't be missed to much.
The Git Up Challenge
The Git Up Challenge will kick start the festival at 6:30pm, just before the opening concert, on Friday.
Everyone is welcome to take part in the dance and if you don't know what it is - check out this video.
National Guitar Museum
The National Guitar Museum will be officially opening on Friday, January 17. It is being hailed as a must-see at the festival.
It will also be open year-round after TCMF.
Busker's Chill Out Zone
This year there will be a dedicated Busker's Chill Out Zone situated in the Shearer's Arcade.
The space will have air conditioning with water, a couch, some bean bags and board games. Buskers can head in to have a chat, charge their phones or just chill out. It will be open from 1-5pm each day.
Cooler weather, rain!
It's not a new addition in the full history of the festival but it's definitely worth noting.
Last year the maximum temperature each day hovered around 40 degrees for most of the festival (the lowest maximum was 33.3). There was a also a little bit of rain (about 16mm).
So, it may be worth packing some gumboots and an umbrella.
