Amateur musical societies from Banbridge to Carrick-on-Suir are polishing their acts in preparation for one of Waterford's proudest and longest-running showpiece events, the International Festival of Light Opera, which opens on September 20th.
Meanwhile, workers are scrambling to complete facilities for the hugely popular festival at the city's ornate Theatre Royal, which is undergoing extensive refurbishment.
Participants may have to endure some inconveniences, such as makeshift dressing rooms, as refurbishment will not be completed in time, but organisers have stressed "the show will go on".
Over two weeks, the festival will feature 13 amateur societies, including several from Britain as well as Northern Ireland. Four shows will be new to the festival but others include such favourites as My Fair Lady, Me and My Girl, Calamity Jane and Some Like it Hot.
Regular patrons insist that the standard of performance of the amateur groups is frequently equal to or better than the professional West End versions.
The heavy annual demand for tickets is the strongest corroboration of this opinion.
Competition is intense, and two local societies, both previous winners, are tipped to be strong contenders for this year's premier trophy: Carrick-on-Suir Amateur Operatic Society will be staging Me and My Girl and the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society will perform Iolanthe.
Attempting to retain the International Trophy will be the Dublin Musical Theatre Players with Some Like it Hot, while there is much anticipation also of the Galway Musical Society's entry, The Hired Man.
The festival is already making plans for its 40th anniversary next year. For that celebratory occasion, audiences and casts will enjoy the facilities of the fully renovated Theatre Royal, which will be one of the most magnificent venues, not only in the south-east but in the country as a whole.