With a new festival set up, large headline act and tourism packages, organisers are expected to attract a large crowd to the November 4 and 5 event. 

This year the event will headlined by Australian ARIA awarding winning blues rock band The Black Sorrows. 

The Black Sorrows will be joined by The Trapps, VanderAa, Cranky Duck, Vanilla Gorilla, The Swamp Stompers and The Girl Folder. 

“We are thrilled to confirm our headline act for 2017, an Aussie music legend, Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows,” Lakeside Festival secretary and music co-ordinator, Katerina Dobbie said.

The festival will be set up as three stand-alone events at walkable distances from each area. 

In John Wright Park there be the ticketed live music event on Saturday, which will run from noon to 8pm. 

“The new later closing time will give our business community, and those who work on Saturdays, the chance to come and enjoy the festival,” Katerina said.

In Lone Pine Memorial Park there will be a new Lakeside Create and Grow Market which will be free to enter and bursting with unique, handmade treasures and the best of fresh produce from the region.

“We will be giving 50 local artisans and growers the chance to showcase their arts, crafts and gourmet produce,” market co-ordinator, Holly Marsden said.

Returning for its second year, the Lakeside Art Prize Exhibition will be held inside the Tuncurry Memorial Hall.

Last year’s exhibition was well received with more than 80 exhibitors entering more than 150 works including painting, photography and mixed media.  

“Following on the success of 2016 we are really excited to see this year’s entries,” exhibition director, Nyaree Donnelly said.

The exhibition is a partnership between Lakeside Festival, Great Lakes Creative Network, the Great Lakes Art Society and the new Mid Coast Creative Connections group.

Lakeside Festival president, Steve Attkins said this year the event would also offer tourism packages, where tickets and accommodation can be purchased together. 

He said this would encourage more visitors to the area, as well as building partnerships with local businesses. 

“Forster-Tuncurry is the perfect festival location with a magic energy radiating from our magnificent Wallis Lake,” Steve, said.

“Our region has a bounty of fresh produce, food, wine, musical and artistic talent. Lakeside aims to bring it all together.”

Applications for market stalls and artist entries open soon.

Tickets will go on sale soon.