The weekend weather is looking more optimistic than during the week, as the Bureau of Meteorology say showers easing on Saturday and a shower or two on Sunday.

Certainly good news for those attending Lismore Gemfest 2025 at the Lismore Showground.

The rain has caused the Lismore Gem & Lapidary Club, organisers of Gemfest, to cancel car parking on the grass off the Dunoon Road entrance. The risk of cars getting bogged and long term damage to the grass is too high.

The result is that car parking will be restricted to off-street, which will entail a walk to the entrance gates. They too are limited as Council has restrictions in certain areas of the showground.

There will be disabled parking and a drop-off section near the main gates on Alexandra Parade.

Jenny Vyrenhoek, the club's Vice President, is taking a realistic view and is encouraging people to use the free bus shuttle over the two days.

"Look, there's nothing we can do about the weather; it is what it is. It's totally out of our hands. I know the people of Lismore and surrounds will come to the showgrounds and support Genfest, as they do every year.

"This is the reason we started the free bus shuttle service. People can park in the CBD, near the Transit Centre or at Browns Creek (Molesworth Street end), where a bus will pick up and drop off, and travel to the North Lismore War Memorial. Then it is a short walk through the main gates," Jenny explained.

"The longest you will wait is 10 minutes, as the shuttle bus is on a loop."

The good news is that the $1.4 million road safety works that were completed in 2024 will play their part in helping you get around the showgrounds over the weekend.

The 1.1 kilometres of new road network and drainage means walking around the 150 tailgaters to view and buy the precious gemstones, opals, and fossils will be dry and not involve mud. Of course, if you venture onto the grass, it will still be soft and potentially muddy underfoot, so boots are the order of the day. Many of the tailgaters will display in the top three sheds at the northern end of the showground.

Lismore Gemfest 2025 opens tomorrow (Saturday) from 9am to 4pm and 9am to 3pm on Sunday at the Lismore Showgrounds on Alexandra Parade, North Lismore.

The free shuttle bus runs on a 10-minute loop, between 9am & 1pm, and 2pm and 4pm on Saturday and 9am to 1pm, and 2pm to 3pm on Sunday.

This year, there are more food and drink options, with Potato Works, Thai Kitchen, Goonellabah PS P&C (sausage rolls, pies, sandwiches), Haps Health Bar, Authentic South Indian Food, the Speedway Takeaway, Lismore City Lions Club, Bugsy's Ice Cream Van, Amici Italian Food Van, and Coffeee Addictions.