Festival CEO Richard Mackay-Scollay said organisers were keeping a close eye on the weather, but said the events were all under marquees and contained within buildings should rainfall strike.

“We just hope the weather will hold up. It’s been brilliant the past few days but we hope it will hold out for the weekend,” he said.

“We have marquees and many events are held inside, so not much problem there.”

Mr Mackay-Scollay said the antique, rare and collectable book trade would also be held under shade.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, there is a 40 per cent chance of rainfall on Saturday and a 60 per cent chance on Sunday. However, rainfall – if any – should be light.

This weekend’s Clunes Booktown festival is not just for literary-lovers however, with a free side event to promote a new arts precinct being built at the Clunes Bottle Museum.

ARTS3370 aims to give local artists a home to work in a public studio and includes workshop spaces and a dedicated area for Youth3370, a music-based self-run community.

The side event will feature raffles, wire sculpture workshops, Youtube video workshop, a “bike freebuild”, a photography exhibition and a display of jewellery from the film The Dressmaker.

The side event will be held at the museum at 70 Bailey Street.

For more information on the festival, which runs April 30 and May 1, visit www.clunesbooktown.com.au