Liebig Street will again become the centre of the opening night’s activities on January 31.

Another initiative for the three-day festival is a Beats at the Lake event on February 1 that will feature DJs.

Beats at the Lake will include special guest Holly-J and take place from 2pm-11pm at Lake Pertobe.

Wunta chairwoman Catherine Williams said the committee had listened to calls for the Friday night event to have a higher profile than the Civic Green where it had been staged last year.

The southern end of Liebig Street will be closed to traffic for the evening with the event starting at 6pm.

Live local music will be performed throughout the area.

The Friday night festivities tie in with Warrnambool’s Laneway Festival that is developing the city’s laneways as places for artistic expression.

One of the laneways will be painted with an artwork on the night. A mobile art gallery in a caravan will be open on the night and there will also be craft activities and other entertainment for children.

“We want traders to embrace the event,” Ms Williams said. “It will be a good, old-fashioned street party. 

“People will be able to meet up with friends after work.”

Wunta will have its traditional launch on January 31, with a big breakfast on the Civic Green from 7am.

It will be followed by the running of the light-hearted Undy 500 down Liebig Street.

Saturday will feature Jazz in the Gardens at the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens with several bands playing from 11.30am-6pm.

Gourmet food stalls selling local produce will be operating.

Movies Under The Stars will take place on Saturday night with a family movie to be screened from 8pm on the Civic Green.

Live at the Lake will follow on the Sunday with some of the district’s best bands at Lake Pertobe from 11am-6pm.

A show ’n’ shine event and a market will also be held at Lake Pertobe on the Sunday.