The town will be transformed, director Judy Turner said - for too long, Creswick has been a place people just drive through instead of stopping to have a look.

"Creswick has a neglected reputation, as a slightly under-visited middle child between Ballarat and Daylesford," she said.

READ MORE: Western United's day out at Creswick Primary

"It's the first music festival in Creswick in a long time.

"It's a lovely town, beautiful streets, venues, great food opportunities - it feels just right for an intimate festival."

The early lineup is looking promising, with soul star Emma Donovan and the Putbacks headlining with Eric Bogle, the Davison Brothers, and Zoruna.

There'll be Scottish fiddlers, a "ukestra", and films at the Masonic Hall as well, though Ms Turner said there'll be a focus on young and local acts, including a busking competition.

Venues across the town will be used, including the Town Hall and courthouse, and it's hoped primary school children will be able to get involved as well.

A special performance will unite the Creswick Brass Band with Melbourne's Sapphire Bollywood Ensemble, led by the Bombay Royale's Parvyn Singh, to close the festival, funded with a federal government Festivals Australia arts grant.

"We're hoping to have a series of concerts called Showcasing the Shire, with musicians from across the shire," Ms Turner said.

"We're hoping to create a real festival atmosphere, with music in lots of venues along that central strip, and bring the town to life - well, it's already full of life, but we'll have it thronging with people that whole weekend.

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"It's a post-COVID celebration, a chance to celebrate our town as not something you just drive through, but somewhere to stop and enjoy, and we hope the local traders will benefit from it as well.

"We hope it'll become an annual event, and we'd love young people in Creswick to feel like it belongs to them as well."

CresFest is scheduled to run April 1 to 3 - keep an eye out for more information soon.

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