City already packed for Tamworth Country Music Festival, with hotels and motels reporting huge interest

Accommodation is so hard to come by some have even started booking in Manilla and Kootingal.

The historic event is shaping up to be one of the biggest in years, according to Tamworth's hotel and motel owners.

READ MORE:

Festival Director Barry Harley is still unwilling to say 2022 will be a mega-festival, but he said it will feel like a "near-normal" post-COVID event.

"Tamworth is the magic moment, is the light of the end of the tunnel [of the pandemic]," he said.

Andrew Mitchell from Cadman Motor Inn & Apartments said his venue is completely full and has a waiting list on top of that.

"We're really busy, it's going to be a great festival," he predicted.

"Our inquiry rate is incredible, we've got a list of people waiting."

Powerhouse General Manager Daine Cooper reported a similar story at the hotel.

"If we could build another 100 rooms in the next couple of months I think we'd probably fill those as well," he said.

"I think it's pretty positive that we're seeing a lot of bookings coming in and a lot of interest."

And the good news doesn't end there.

Mr Harley told a meeting of the Accommodation Working Group at the Tamworth Regional Gallery on Tuesday that open borders would make a huge bonus for the city.

On Monday, Queensland Premier Anna Palaszczuk announced that the state would be open to return by its citizens that travelled interstate.

Fully-vaccinated travellers will be allowed to enter the sunshine state without going through quarantine, from December 17.

About a third of the TCMF visitors come from out of state, with the largest sections coming from Queensland or Victoria, Mr Harley said.

"A good proportion of our regular crowds come from Queensland," he said.

"Queensland is a bit of a heartland of country music."

Organisers plan to do their best to open more room for travellers.

Want more local news? Subscribe to the Leader to read it here first

Council will expand the temporary festival campground to allow more people in.

Mr Harley said they also hope to be able to attract day-trip traffic from nearby cities and towns like Armidale and Gunnedah.

"We're trying to take steps to actually make the accommodation available for as many people as possible," he said.

"But ... if the accommodation is full then let's try and get some day trippers in."

With COVID-19 restrictions loosening in recent weeks, the festival cavalcade and Peel Street busking both appear more secure.

Organisers are "planning for" both events, Mr Harley said.

"If the rules stay pretty much the same as they are now we believe we can manage it," he said.

"One would hope if they open up, we definitely will manage it.

"A Peel Street experience with buskers is also being planned, with one eye back to whatever the health orders apply. Maximum restrictions or distancing, that's all been factored in."

Just 50 floats will be permitted during the cavalcade, to mark the 50 years of the festival.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: