Organisers of the Heywood Wood, Wine and Roses Festival say their event is the best in the region.
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As committee members add the final touches to the 26th annual February fair, festival president Ross Barclay said Saturday was guaranteed to be a unique event.
“It’s different to other festivals,” Mr Barclay said.
“It’s not just a truck show or music event or car shine or even a street parade, it’s all of these things.
“It’s the best value for money festival in Victoria.
“This is a family event with entertainment for all ages, all day.”
Mr Barclay said the festival was a celebration of the region’s timber, grape and rose-growing industries.
“These are industries that traditionally defined Heywood and it’s surrounds,” he said.
“From the timber industry, to the local vineyards.
“This is also the time of year when (Portland's) Treloar Roses were blooming.”
The Heywood Wood, Wine and Roses Festival will include a side-show alley, tractor pull, live music, magicians, highland dancing, arts and crafts and a reptile show.
Together with wine tasting, petting zoo, a circus, cut flowers and motorbike stunt riders.
“There will also be interactive entertainment as a couple of Transformers rove around among the people," Mr Barclay said.
“Look out for real dinosaurs too.
“Oh, and Yogi Kendall from Outback Truckers will be bringing his TV crew.”
Outback Truckers is a popular reality television program hosted by presenter Glenn ‘Yogi’ Kendall.
Aired across the Seven Network since 2012, the program focuses on selected truck drivers and the challenges they face on Australia’s rural highways.
This year's event will feature utes and trucks from as far away as Queensland and WA.
“It is also the unveiling of the 2019 legends wall,” Mr Barclay said.
“Last year was the first unveiling and this year we’ve got six nominations from the trucking industry.”
The festival covers 30 acres and includes over 100 stalls and food courts.
Organisers said they were expecting a flood of creative entries in the street parade as they had added a cash incentive for the first time in the festival’s 26 years.
“We’ve put together $1000 for the best float,” Mr Barclay said.
“We’re looking at community, novelty and school categories and we’re looking forward to seeing what people come up with."
The festival is on February 23 from 11am to 11pm.
The 2019 Aussie Truckers Calendar will be available at the festival with proceeds going to men's mental health.
