Event organisers this week said pre-booked ticket sales outstripped last year's bumper attendance.

However Warrnambool City Council events and promotions manager Lisa McLeod yesterday said booth ticket sales had not been as strong as in 2008.

"There have been a few external pressures that have been out of our control this year -- families feeling the pinch of tighter economic times and the uncertainty about swine flu prior to the event has had some impact," Ms McLeod said.

"Last year, we had three sell-out days which was a record for the festival and this year it is looking like Saturday (today) will be our only day at full capacity."

Ms McLeod said last week 10,000 people had pre-booked tickets - a 5.5 per cent increase on last year. But the initial ticket rush had failed to spill into the box office.

Organisers introduced strict hygiene measures at the mammoth event in an attempt to quash swine flu fears.

Despite looking set to have only one day at full capacity, Ms McLeod said support for the event had risen in the past few days.

Thousands of families sought refuge in the festival tents on the civic green as icy winds lashed the city.

Ms McLeod predicted Play School's Justine Clark, who will perform twice today, to be a major drawcard.

Clark will take centre stage again tomorrow.

Meanwhile, several festival volunteers were outraged to be issued parking fines from the city council this week.

At least three volunteers were issued with parking tickets, after parking on Liebig Street between Timor and Merri streets, which has been closed during the festival.

A volunteer, who preferred not to be named, said they had parked at the site for the past three years.

"We have never been fined before. But yesterday we were told we could only drop stuff off there and the closest we could park was Cannon Hill," the person said.

"We're at the festival 9am to 6pm. Cannon Hill is a long way to walk, especially at night for women.

"What I would like to know is why are they issuing parking tickets on a closed street?"

The infringement notices ranged from $55 to $68. Warrnambool City Council media and marketing manager Kim Sweetnam said the area had always been a 30-minute parking zone.

"If they haven't been booked until now it is their good fortune," she said.

"The area is clearly signed. The street is closed to traffic during the festival, but we like to keep the parking spaces there so people can still access council facilities and other services."