Ryan Palmer, president of the Nelson Bay and District Business Association, said the group, which organised the festival, felt “really prepared” for the weekend ahead.

“We’re just hoping mother nature is kind to us,” he said.

“Weather hinges on getting day trippers here, which is what we want.

“It [festival] is about getting people into shops, into the Nelson Bay CBD and getting them coming back next weekend and in the following months.”

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting rain in Nelson Bay throughout Saturday.

Mr Palmer hoped this would not deter punters, and jokingly suggested they bring some gumboots with them.

There will be marquee stages in Apex Park and on the foreshore of Nelson Bay, near d’Albora Marinas, featuring music across the weekend.

But there will be plenty of other music and activities happening inside a number of Port Stephens venues.

Bush poetry will kick off the festival activities on Saturday.

Peter Mace and Murray Hartin will entertain at Seabreeze Hotel in Nelson Bay from 8am.

Mr Hartin, joined by fellow bush poet Bill Kearns, will then jump aboard one of the two “Country Cruises” that is being held as part of the festival on the weekend.

There will be a number of Hunter and Port Stephens country music singers showcasing their talents during the Bluewater festival, as well as buskers.

Line dancing will be running throughout the day at Wests Nelson Bay Diggers on Saturday and Sunday, Mudgee-bred trio Brothers3 will perform in Nelson Bay on Saturday night, as will Newcastle’s Viper Creek Band.

“We have a good mix of country music of all style,” Mr Palmer said.

The festival was launched in Nelson Bay on Wednesday.

Activities, free performances and ticketed gigs will run throughout the weekend and wrap up on Monday afternoon.

Festival highlight, the longest line dance, will he held at d’Albora Marinas from 10am on Monday.