Dozens of dancers coming to Dubbo for its annual eisteddfod will help turn bigger profits for businesses.
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Accompanied by their families, the performers from as far away as Sydney and Canberra will leap into competition at the 49th City of Dubbo Eisteddfod for up to an estimated five days.
Motels, cafes, petrol and retail outlets may be cheering as much as audiences.
President of the City of Dubbo Eisteddfod Society Barbara Redgrave is proud of its contribution to the economy.
She says eisteddfod visitors including adjudicators can also become tourists.
"Some people, if they have half a day free or some time off, go to the Old Dubbo Gaol or Taronga Western Plains Zoo," she said.
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The eisteddfod kicks off on Saturday with the hugely-popular "dance groups weekend" at Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre (DRTCC).
More than 2500 dancers from a dozen dance studios in Dubbo, Mudgee, Orange, Bathurst, Forbes and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) will grace the stage of the theatre.
Mrs Redgrave said the theatre was booked out for many of the dance groups sessions requiring the establishment of a waiting list.
The president said next week's "school days" in the convention centre would also draw hundreds of people to verse speaking, choral, choir and dance sessions.
She is keen for the general public to understand that the eisteddfod is not just for the family and friends of performers.
"What we want people to realise is that it is open to everyone," Mrs Redgrave said.
The volunteer-run eisteddfod has a committee of 14 people who work year-round.
This year the committee has adopted a multi-venue approach to running the eisteddfod.
The DRTCC, Macquarie Conservatorium of Music and Dubbo RSL Memorial Club theatrette will host concurrent performances, reducing the duration of the eisteddfod from three to two weeks.
The 2019 eisteddfod has attracted a total of 2516 entries across dance, speech and drama, vocal and instrumental sections.
Dance remains the star of the eisteddfod with 1661 entries.
Performers will converge on Dubbo from across Western NSW, Sydney and the ACT.
Programs can be found at www.dubboeisteddfod.org.au.
Tickets to the dance groups weekend are being sold at www.123tix.com.au.
For the rest of the eisteddfod, tickets will be sold "at the door".
