VICTORIA'S AFL grand final holiday has given a boost to the Deniliquin Ute Muster, with daily crowds tipped to exceed 20,000.
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Gates to the camping ground at the muster site opened at midday Thursday, 18 hours earlier than the usual entry time.
Marketing and public relations co-ordinator Erica Laing said a kilometre-long queue of utes greeted the opening, which was brought forward because of the Victorian holiday.
"We've definitely seen people in town earlier because of the public holiday,” Ms Laing said.
"A lot of people are getting into camp on Thursday and having our headline act, Cold Chisel, on the Friday night rather than the Saturday night is also have an impact with people coming earlier."
Ms Laing expects the daily crowds on Friday and Saturday to exceed 20,000, up from 18,000 last year.
"It's a combination of things attracting them – it's the acts, it's the weather, it's the AFL grand final and it's the public holiday," Ms Laing said.
With the AFL showpiece o revert to the last Saturday in September next year, the muster won't be available to take advantage of the Victorian holiday in 2016.
This year's performers aside from Cold Chisel, include Birds of Tokyo, Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts and Adam Brand.
The bars at the event has doubled to four with the addition of the wine, cider and gold can beer bars.
A highlight on Friday will be a competition to build the best outdoor dunny with four teams of four constructing their toilet which will be installed at next year's muster.
Warm weather is tipped with 29 degrees on Friday and 33 on Saturday.
To cater for the heat, free sunscreen will be distributed and water will be available from a tank with refillable bottles being provided.
Deniliquin police boss Superintendent Paul Condon has warned patrons to behave appropriately.
"Event participants need to read the conditions of entry, prior to attending as they will be strictly enforced," he said.
"This year there will be security checks at the entrance gates as well as patrols within the event camping areas."
Superintendent Condon also noted alcohol rules which limit every adult ticket holder to one slab of beer or premixed drinks or four litres of wine in the camping area.
“Also there are limits to the size of firewood allowed, the locations that fires are permitted and a ban of propane gas canisters," he said.
“Like last year this will be a mid strength alcohol event.
"Many of these strategies mirror those that were introduced at the Bathurst V8 Supercar races a number of years ago."
