The 28 contestants in the 44th Rose of Tralee festival will arrive in the Kerry town today for this evening's festival launch.
The first stop for the budding roses will be the Dome, the major venue for the festival. Monday and Tuesday nights' television interviews with Marty Whelan will be broadcast from there.
Roses from three new locations - Italy, Luxembourg and Philadelphia - have been added this year.
Mr Con O'Connor, this year's honorary president of the festival, will travel with the roses on the coach into Kerry. Yesterday they spent most of the day in Co Carlow and this morning they will attend the launch of the Clarion Hotel in Limerick.
A spectacular opening is planned for this evening with a display involving fireworks, light and water, with music provided by Extreme Rhythm, the original Riverdance percussionists.
Other musical attractions this year are Phil Coulter and his orchestra, Irish pop stars Six, UK chart-toppers Liberty X, TG4's Hector, David Kitt, Picture House and Muncy.
A competition this weekend of aspiring pop singers aged 11 to 17 - the Rose Pop Idol - will be overseen by Mr Louis Walsh and is expected to attract thousands of entries.