Thousands of people, unsure how to dress for the humid weather, spilled on to the streets of Waterford yesterday for the start of a weekend of street theatre, music and other antics.
Children at Wyse Park sat in awe as they watched street theatre company Artizani's Revolution, a fast-paced, light-hearted tale of the foolish aspects of blossoming love.
At the AOL stage on John Roberts Square, swing-jazz outfit Dynamo Rhythm Aces got a crowd of onlookers literally into the swing of the Spraoi 2007 Street Festival.
At the William Vincent Wallace Plaza, bands Saviours of Space, winners of the National Student Music Awards 2007, and Ilya K, victorious in the Murphy's Live competition earlier this year, demonstrated Waterford's rich musical talent.
Avanti Display offered Stormbringer, a large-scale theatrical event fusing fire and water with a tempestuous finale at the stage on Lombard Street.
The sound of the Spraoi Drums will echo around Cathedral Square today and on Peter Street tomorrow.
An estimated 50,000 are expected to converge on Waterford tomorrow for the "rootinest, tootinest, shootinest show this side of the Rockies".
The Yee-Haw!!! Spraoi Parade 2007, a convoy of wagons, stagecoaches and a full-scale, western-style train, will roll into town at 10pm.
It will feature a showdown at sundown between some 200 "good, bad and very, very ugly" cowboys and Indians.
The festival, which is now in its 15th year, will reach its climax with a fireworks display on the quays tomorrow evening.
But those wishing to attend tomorrow's events are being advised make the trip into town earlier than planned.
Changes have been made to the schedule of the festival because of the replay of the Waterford-Cork All-Ireland hurling quarter final in Croke Park. Events scheduled for 2pm will now go ahead at 1pm.
Gardaí said the parade may be delayed by 30 minutes and begin at 10.00pm to allow traffic returning from the match to clear the bridge into the Deise.
Many inner-city streets will remain closed today and tomorrow, and motorists are advised not to drive if possible.