The 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival gets underway today, with hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to take the walk down Peel Street over the next 10 days.

The Tamworth Country Music Festival is Australia’s largest music festival, with a program featuring 700 artists and more than 1800 events, across 10 days, including some of Australia’s most celebrated names in country music including; Lee Kernaghan OAM, John Williamson, Troy Cassar-Daley, Graeme Connors, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Colin Buchanan, James Johnston, Amber Lawrence, Aleyce Simmonds, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, Fanny Lumsden, Shane Nicholson, Tania Kernaghan & Jason Owen, Travis Collins, Kasey Chambers, Ashleigh Dallas, Max Jackson and Andrew Swift, just to name a few.

More than 450 buskers have also registered to be a part of the largest and longest-running country music festival in the southern hemisphere.

For those making the five-and-a-half journey to Tamworth, a reminder that police have launched a high-visibility operation for this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Operation Tamworth Country Music Festival 2025 will be in place for the duration of the iconic event, which starts today (Friday, 17 January 2025) and runs until Sunday, 26 January 2025.

General duties officers from Oxley Police District and across Western Region will be assisted by specialist police from the Operations Support Group (OSG), Dog Unit, Licensing Police, Bicycle Unit, and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command throughout the operation.

Operation Commander, Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland APM, said police will be out in force, with an unwavering focus on road safety, anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related violence.

“Tamworth Country Music Festival attracts huge crowd numbers each year, and although the vast majority of attendees respect the rules, please be assured police will not tolerate unlawful behaviour,” Assistant Commissioner Holland said.

“Everyone should be able to enjoy the event in Tamworth safely, but not at the expense of other people’s safety.

“Our officers don’t want to rain on your parade – but I can assure you they will be firmly focused on acting swiftly towards those who choose to do the wrong thing.”

Assistant Commissioner Holland pointed out that police will not tolerate any form of dangerous or criminal behaviour, noting that alcohol-free zones in the CBD will be enforced.

“We urge people to use the Festival Express bus service where possible to get around Tamworth, particularly if you are planning to drink alcohol,” Assistant Commissioner Holland said.

Additional Traffic and Highway Patrol officers will be deployed to ensure country-music fans and other motorists make it to and from their destinations safely.

Attendees are also reminded that there will be a number of alcohol-free zones throughout the Tamworth CBD for the safety and security of all festival-goers and the wider community.

Police offer the following safety and security tips for campers:

• Plan your trip in advance and if possible, make a booking;

• Get to know your surrounding campers;

• In large crowds, be mindful of your own safety and security as well as that of people around you;

• Leave valuables at home – if you must take valuables with you, ensure they are secured and kept out of sight; 

• Lock your caravan or campervan when unattended; 

• Where possible, use a lock to secure your tent;

• Where possible, use a portable alarm in your tent or camper;

• Plan for changes in weather conditions; 

• Ensure valuables are not left in unattended vehicles;

• Report any suspicious behaviour to police.

For comprehensive event details, visit the official festival website: www.tcmf.com.au

Special-event traffic information can be found at: www.livetraffic.com.