Cork Jazz Festival devotees are expected to arrive by plane, boat and train for the annual extravaganza which gets under way tonight.
Over 100,000 people are expected to attend the festival, now in its 45th year.
Cork Airport is expecting one of its busiest bank holiday weekends with a 23% increase in passenger numbers, while a full intercity rail service will be running between Cork and Dublin for the weekend along with extra late evening commuter trains operating between the city and Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow.
The five day event features an expanded programme with more than 500 international and Irish musicians and some 100 ticketed performances.
As well as the 74-venue music trail, the ever-popular Big Fringe brings old and new jazz sounds onto the city's streets with local and visiting marching bands taking over Oliver Plunkett Street for a jazz stroll from 6pm tomorrow evening.
Along with a number of community outreach events including jazz visits to schools and care centres, there's a celebration of 50 years of Hip Hop through a jazz lens with the "Evolution" exhibition at St. Peter's.
Among this year's top liners are Grammy-winner Kurt Elling, trumpeter, producer and composer Matthew Halsall who recently sold out the Royal Albert Hall, Corinne Bailey Rae, Morcheeba, and Macy Gray who gave festival-goers an unexpected treat with a surprise performance at Coughlan's in the city last night.
Festival director Mark Murphy says this weekend will have something for everyone from jazz purists to music lovers and those who just want to soak up the atmosphere on the streets.
It gets underway from tonight from 6pm and runs until Bank Holiday Monday.
