Stall holders will start flooding into Launceston's City Park early today to prepare their stalls for the three-day event.

And when the gates open at 5.30pm, it'll be all go for the 24th annual food and wine extravaganza.

Ms Clark said yesterday that the set-up was ahead of schedule and all that was left to do were the small things, like signage and sound checks.

``(In the) afternoon we'll be doing a mild panic about everything, but at 5.30pm when the gates open, it'll be fine,'' she said. ``I've got a really good feeling about it and I think it's going to be one of the best years ever.''

The three-day event is expected to draw almost 40,000 people both nationally and internationally.

A survey conducted last year found 19 per cent of patrons came from interstate, while 3 per cent came from overseas.

Ms Clark said that Festivale was a great way for Northern Tasmania to showcase what the state had to offer.

``It's a wonderful way for local food and wine producers to showcase their products,'' she said.

``If you are a little winery down the river you don't have all this food traffic coming past your door day after day . . . so it's about getting their product in front of people.

``It also supports business in the city, accommodation places book out and restaurants still do extremely well . . . and from a tourism perspective it's great for the state.''

Ms Clark said that although food and wine was the focus of the event, it was the entertainment that provided the atmosphere.

Richard Clapton will perform on the Frontline stage tomorrow night at 9.30pm and Bobby Fox and the Treatments will perform on Sunday at 1.45pm.